Systems and methods for designating a master power transmitter in a cluster of wireless power transmitters

ABSTRACT

An example method is performed at a first transmitter in communication with other power transmitters, the method including: receiving, from a respective transmitter of the other transmitters, information indicating at least (1) a network address, and (2) status information regarding whether the respective transmitter is in master or non-master mode. The method also includes, if none of the other power transmitters is in the master mode, determining whether a first network address of the first transmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the other transmitters. The method further includes: if the first network address is lower than the respective network addresses: operating the first transmitter in the master mode; and sending an indication that the first transmitter is in the master mode. While the first transmitter is in the master mode, the first transmitter assigns each of the other transmitters to transmit power waves to one or more receivers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefitof U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/387,466, entitled “ClusterManagement of Transmitters in a Wireless Power Transmission System,”filed Dec. 24, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/748,136, filed Jun. 23, 2015, entitled “Cluster Managementof Transmitters in a Wireless Power Transmission System,” which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/587,616, filed Dec.31, 2014, entitled “Cluster Management of Transmitters in a WirelessPower Transmission System,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/272,124, filed May 7, 2014, entitled“System and Method for Controlling Communication Between Wireless PowerTransmitter Managers,” each of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/856,337, entitled “Systems and Methods for Wireless PowerCharging,” filed Sep. 16, 2015, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

This application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,430,filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Methodology For Pocket-forming,” U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/925,469, filed Jun. 24, 2013, entitled“Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming,” U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/946,082, filed Jul. 19, 2013, entitled “Method for 3 DimensionalPocket-forming,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,399, filed May10, 2013, entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/891,445, filed May 10, 2013, entitled“Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission” U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/336,987, filed Jul. 21, 2014, entitled “System and Methodfor Smart Registration of Wireless Power Receivers in a Wireless PowerNetwork,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/286,289, filed May 23,2014, entitled “System and Method for Generating a Power ReceiverIdentifier in a Wireless Power Network,” U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/583,625, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Receivers for WirelessPower Transmission,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/583,630, filedDec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology for Pocket-Forming,” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/583,634, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled“Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/583,640, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology forMultiple Pocket-Forming,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/583,641,filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Wireless Power Transmission withSelective Range,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/583,643, filedDec. 27, 2014, entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-Forming,” eachof which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless power transmission.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks andother electronic devices have become an everyday need in the way wecommunicate and interact with others. The frequent use of these devicesmay require a significant amount of power, which may easily deplete thebatteries attached to these devices. Therefore, a user is frequentlyneeded to plug in the device to a power source, and recharge suchdevice. This may require having to charge electronic equipment at leastonce a day, or in high-demand electronic devices more than once a day.

Such an activity may be tedious and may represent a burden to users. Forexample, a user may be required to carry chargers in case his electronicequipment is lacking power. In addition, users have to find availablepower sources to connect to. Lastly, users must plugin to a wall orother power supply to be able to charge his or her electronic device.However, such an activity may render electronic devices inoperableduring charging.

Current solutions to this problem may include devices havingrechargeable batteries. However, the aforementioned approach requires auser to carry around extra batteries, and also make sure that the extraset of batteries is charged. Solar-powered battery chargers are alsoknown, however, solar cells are expensive, and a large array of solarcells may be required to charge a battery of any significant capacity.Other approaches involve a mat or pad that allows charging of a devicewithout physically connecting a plug of the device to an electricaloutlet, by using electromagnetic signals. In this case, the device stillrequires to be placed in a certain location for a period of time inorder to be charged. Assuming a single source power transmission ofelectro-magnetic (EM) signal, an EM signal gets reduced by a factorproportional to 1/r² in magnitude over a distance (r) in free space, inother words, it is attenuated proportional to the square of thedistance. In most practical applications the attenuation is actuallymore severe than indicated by the inverse of the squared distance due toatmospheric conditions and other factors. Thus, the received power at alarge distance from the EM transmitter is a small fraction of the powertransmitted. To increase the power of the received signal, thetransmission power would have to be boosted. Assuming that thetransmitted signal has an efficient reception at three centimeters fromthe EM transmitter, receiving the same signal power over a usefuldistance of three meters would entail boosting the transmitted power by10,000 times. Such power transmission is wasteful, as most of the energywould be transmitted and not received by the intended devices, it couldbe hazardous to living tissue, it would most likely interfere with mostelectronic devices in the immediate vicinity, and it may be dissipatedas heat.

In yet another approach such as directional power transmission, it wouldgenerally require knowing the location of the device to be able to pointthe signal in the right direction to enhance the power transmissionefficiency. However, even when the device is located, efficienttransmission is not guaranteed due to reflections and interference ofobjects in the path or vicinity of the receiving device.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits apower waves (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create athree-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can beconnected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive powerfrom the pocket of energy. The transmitter can locate the at least onereceiver in a three-dimensional space using a communication medium(e.g., Bluetooth technology). The transmitter generates a waveform tocreate a pocket of energy around each of the at least one receiver. Thetransmitter uses an algorithm to direct, focus, and control the waveformin three dimensions. The receiver can convert the waves (e.g., RFsignals) into electricity for powering an electronic device.Accordingly, the embodiments for wireless power transmission can allowpowering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.

A wireless power network may include wireless power transmitters eachwith an embedded wireless power transmitter manager. The wireless powertransmitter manager may include a wireless power manager application,which may be a software application hosted in a computing device. Thewireless power transmitter manager may include a GUI which may be usedby a user to perform management tasks.

The wireless power network may include a plurality of client deviceswith wireless power receivers built in as part of the device or adaptedexternally. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiverapplication configured to communicate with the power transmitter managerapplication in a wireless power transmitter. The wireless power managerapplication may include a device database where information about thewireless power network may be stored.

In one embodiment, a system for providing wireless power deliverycomprises a master transmitter manager configured to communicate with aplurality of transmitter managers communicatively coupled with aplurality of transmitters, wherein the master transmitter manager isconfigured to control the transmission of power waves by at least one ofa plurality of power transmitters to a receiver based upon a strength ofa communication signal received by each transmitter manager from thereceiver.

In another embodiment, a method for providing wireless power deliverycomprises receiving, by a master transmitter manager, a signal strengthof a communication signal from a receiver to a plurality oftransmitters; and selecting, by the master transmitter manager, at leastone of the plurality of transmitters to generate power waves that formconstructive interference to the receiver based upon the communicationsignal strength.

In yet another embodiment, a method for providing wireless powerdelivery comprises transmitting, by a master transmitter manager to aplurality of transmitter managers communicatively coupled to a pluralityof power transmitters, a selection of at least one of the plurality ofpower transmitters to generate power waves that form a constructiveinterference pattern at a receiver; monitoring, by the mastertransmitter manager, a location information of the receiver with respectto each of the plurality of power transmitters; and changing, by themaster transmitter manager, the selection of the at least one of theplurality of power transmitters based upon the location information ofthe receiver, whereby at least one of the plurality of powertransmitters continues to generate power waves during the change.

In one embodiment, a system for providing wireless power deliverycomprises at least one transmitter manager processor communicativelycoupled to a plurality of transmitters, wherein the at least onetransmitter manager processor is configured to determine whichtransmitter of the plurality of transmitters to generate a constructiveinterference pattern of power waves at receiver based upon a signalstrength of a communication signal from the receiver to each of theplurality of transmitters.

In another embodiment, a method for delivering wireless power comprisestransmitting, by at least one of a plurality of transmitters, controlledpower waves to form a constructive interference pattern of power wavesat a receiver location; and receiving, by at least one transmittermanager of the at least one the plurality of transmitters, a pluralityof power transfer attributes of each of the plurality of transmitters;wherein the transmitting of the controlled power waves by the at leastone of the plurality of transmitters to the at least one receiver iscontrolled by the at least one transmitter manager in accordance withthe plurality of power transfer attributes.

In yet another embodiment, a system for providing wireless powerdelivery comprises a first transmitter; and a second transmitter,wherein the first and second transmitters are configured to determinewhich of the first and second transmitters to generate a constructiveinterference pattern of power waves at a receiver.

Additional features and advantages of an embodiment will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription. The objectives and other advantages of the invention willbe realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out inthe exemplary embodiments in the written description and claims hereofas well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying figures which areschematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated asrepresenting the background art, the figures represent aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates steps of wireless power transmission, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture for wireless power transmission,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates components of a system of wireless power transmissionusing pocket-forming procedures, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates steps of powering a plurality of receiver devices,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates waveforms for wireless power transmission withselective range, which may get unified in single waveform.

FIG. 6B illustrates waveforms for wireless power transmission withselective range, which may get unified in single waveform.

FIG. 7 illustrates wireless power transmission with selective range,where a plurality of pockets of energy may be generated along variousradii from transmitter.

FIG. 8 illustrates wireless power transmission with selective range,where a plurality of pockets of energy may be generated along variousradii from transmitter.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a diagram of an architecture for wirelesslycharging client computing platform, according to an exemplary embodiment

FIG. 10A illustrates wireless power transmission using multiplepocket-forming, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10B illustrates multiple adaptive pocket-forming, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a wireless power system using a wireless power transmittermanager, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a system architecture for smart registration ofwireless power receivers within a wireless power network, according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for smart registration of wirelesspower receivers within a wireless power network, according to a furtherembodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a transmitter power transfer transition, between onewireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless powertransmission system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of transmitter power transfer transition, betweenone wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wireless powertransmission system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary embodiment of transmitter power transfertransition, between one wireless power transmitter manager to another,in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a method for managing communications within acluster of wireless power transmitters, and for managing wireless powertransmission of the cluster with a wireless power receiver, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power receiver movingbetween several wireless power transmitters in a wireless powertransmission system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 19 illustrates a system architecture for a wireless powertransmission system, and schematic diagram of communications of acluster of wireless power transmitters, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power receiver moving inproximity to the location of a cluster of wireless power transmitters ina wireless power transmission system, and a diagram of real timecommunications within the system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a system block diagram of a system for wirelessly poweringreceiver devices within the service zone of a cluster of wireless powertransmitters, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a system state diagram showing states of wireless powertransmitter software of a system for wirelessly powering receiverdevices within the service zone of a cluster of wireless powertransmitters, according to the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a transmitters masteror non-master modes in a system for wirelessly powering receiver deviceswithin the service zone of a cluster of wireless power transmitters,according to the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a method for detecting and reporting areceiver moving into or out of range of a transmitter in a system forwirelessly powering receiver devices in the service zone of a cluster ofwireless power transmitters, according to the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a method for initiating communication with areceiver, and initiating power transmission to the receiver, in a systemfor wirelessly powering receiver devices in the service zone of acluster of wireless power transmitters, according to the embodiment ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a method for determining whether to transferpower to a receiver, and selecting a transmitter to transfer power to areceiver, in a system for wirelessly powering receiver devices withinthe service zone of a cluster of wireless power transmitters, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring power transfer oftransmitters within a cluster of wireless power transmitters to areceiver device, and for transitioning power transfer authorization froma current transmitter to a new transmitter, according to the embodimentof FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is here described in detail with reference toembodiments illustrated in the drawings, which form a part here. Otherembodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Theillustrative embodiments described in the detailed description are notmeant to be limiting of the subject matter presented here. Furthermore,the various components and embodiments described herein may be combinedto form additional embodiments not expressly described, withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used here to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated here, and additionalapplications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated here,which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and havingpossession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope ofthe invention.

I. Systems and Methods for Wireless Power Transmissions

A. Components System Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 for wireless power transmission by formingpockets of energy 104. The system 100 may comprise transmitters 101,receivers 103, client devices 105, and pocket detectors 107.Transmitters 101 may transmit power waves that may be captured byreceivers 103. It is noted that power waves may sometimes be referred toas “power transmission waves,” or as power waves that are components ofone or more “power transmission signals.” The receivers 103 may compriseantennas, antenna elements, and other circuitry (detailed later), whichmay convert the captured power waves into a useable source of electricalenergy on behalf of client devices 105 associated with the receivers103. In some embodiments, transmitters 101 may transmit power waves,made up of power waves, in one or more trajectories by manipulating thephase, gain, and/or other waveform features of the power waves, and/orby selecting different transmit antennas. In such embodiments, thetransmitters 101 may manipulate the trajectories of the power waves sothat the underlying power waves converge at a location in space,resulting in certain forms of interference. One type of interferencegenerated at the convergence of the power waves, “constructiveinterference,” may be a field of energy caused by the convergence of thepower waves such that they add together and strengthen the energyconcentrated at that location—in contrast to adding together in a way tosubtract from each other and diminish the energy concentrated at thatlocation, which is called “destructive interference.” The accumulationof sufficient energy at the constructive interference may establish afield of energy, or “pocket of energy” 104, which may be harvested bythe antennas of a receiver 103, provided the antennas are configured tooperate on the frequency of the power waves. Accordingly, the powerwaves establish pockets of energy 104 at the location in space where thereceivers 103 may receive, harvest, and convert the power waves intouseable electrical energy, which may power or charge associatedelectrical client devices 105. Detectors 107 may be devices comprising areceiver 103 that are capable of producing a notification or alert inresponse to receiving power waves. As an example, a user searching forthe optimal placement of a receiver 103 to charge the user's clientdevice 105 may use a detector 107 that comprises an LED light 108, whichmay brighten when the detector 107 captures the power waves from asingle unitary set or collective of power waves, or a pocket of energy104. User may place the receiver 103 at the location where the LED light108 is the brightest.

1. Transmitters

The transmitter 101 may transmit or broadcast power waves to a receiver103 associated with a device 105. Although several of the embodimentsmentioned below describe the power waves as radio frequency (RF) waves,it should be appreciated that the power waves may be physical media thatis capable of being propagated through space, and that is capable ofbeing converted into a source of electrical energy 103. The transmitter101 may transmit the power waves as a single unitary set or collectiveof power waves transmitted directly at the receivers 103. In some cases,one or more transmitters 101 may transmit a plurality of power wavesthat are propagated in multiple directions and may deflect off ofphysical obstructions (e.g., walls). The power waves may converge at alocation in a three-dimensional space, forming a pocket of energy 104.Receivers 103 a, 103 b within the boundaries of an energy pocket 104 maycapture and convert the power waves into a useable source of energy forassociated devices 105 a, 105 b. The transmitter 101 may controlpocket-forming based on phase and/or relative amplitude adjustments ofpower waves, to form constructive interference patterns.

Although the exemplary embodiment recites the use of RF wavetransmission techniques, the wireless charging techniques should not belimited to RF wave transmission techniques. Rather, it should beappreciated that possible wireless charging techniques may include anynumber of alternative or additional techniques for transmitting energyto a receiver converting the transmitted energy to electrical power.Non-limiting exemplary transmission techniques for energy that can beconverted by a receiving device into electrical power may include:ultrasound, microwave, resonant and inductive magnetic fields, laserlight, infrared, or other forms of electromagnetic energy. In the caseof ultrasound, for example, one or more transducer elements may bedisposed so as to form a transducer array that transmits ultrasoundwaves toward a receiving device that receives the ultrasound waves andconverts them to electrical power. In the case of resonant or inductivemagnetic fields, magnetic fields are created in a transmitter coil andconverted by a receiver coil into electrical power. In addition,although the exemplary transmitter 101 is shown as a single unitcomprising potentially multiple transmitters (transmit array), both forRF transmission of power and for other power transmission methodsmentioned in this paragraph, the transmit arrays can comprise multipletransmitters that are physically spread around a room rather than beingin a compact regular structure. The transmitter includes an antennaarray where the antennas are used for sending the power waves. Eachantenna sends power waves where the transmitter applies a differentphase and amplitude to the signal transmitted from different antennas.Similar to the formation of pockets of energy, the transmitter can forma phased array of delayed versions of the signal to be transmitted, thenapplies different amplitudes to the delayed versions of the signal, andthen sends the signals from appropriate antennas. For a sinusoidalwaveform, such as an RF signal, ultrasound, microwave, or others,delaying the signal is similar to applying a phase shift to the signal.

2. Pockets of Energy

A pocket of energy 104 may be formed at locations of constructiveinterference patterns of power waves transmitted by the transmitter 101.The pockets of energy 104 may manifest as a three-dimensional fieldwhere energy may be harvested by receivers 103 located within the pocketof energy 104. The pocket of energy 104 produced by a transmitter 101during pocket-forming may be harvested by a receiver 103, converted toan electrical charge, and then provided to an electronic client device105 associated with the receiver 103 (e.g., laptop computer, smartphone,rechargeable battery). In some embodiments, there may be multipletransmitters 101 and/or multiple receivers 103 a, 103 b powering variousclient devices 105 a, 105 b. In some embodiments, adaptivepocket-forming processes executed by the transmitter 101 may adjusttransmission of the power waves in order to regulate power levels and/orto compensate for the movement of the receivers 103 a, 103 b and/ordevices 105 a, 105 b.

3. Receivers

A receiver 103 may be used for powering or charging an associated clientdevice 105, which may be an electrical device 105 a coupled to areceiver 103 a, or a receiver 103 b integrated with or attached to theelectrical device 105 b. The receiver 103 may receive power waves fromone or more transmitters 101. The receiver 103 may receive the powerwaves as a single unitary set or collective of directly transmittedpower waves produced by the transmitter 101; or the receiver 103 mayharvest power waves from a pocket of energy 104, which may be athree-dimensional field in space resulting from the convergence of aplurality of power waves produced by one or more transmitters 101. Thereceiver 103 may comprise an array of antennas 112 configured to receivethe power waves, so that the receiver 103 may harvest the energy fromthe power waves The receiver 103 may comprise circuitry that thenconverts the energy of the power waves (e.g., the radio frequencyelectromagnetic radiation) to electrical energy. A rectifier of thereceiver 103 may translate the electrical energy from AC to DC. Othertypes of conditioning may be applied, as well. For example, a voltageconditioning circuit may increase or decrease the voltage of theelectrical energy as required by the client device 105. An electricalrelay may then convey the electrical energy from the receiver 103 to theclient device 105.

In some embodiments, a receiver 103 may comprise a communicationscomponent that transmits control signals, sometimes referred to as“communications signals,” to the transmitter 101 in order to exchangedata in real-time or near real-time. The control signals may containstatus information about the client device 105, the receiver 103, and/orthe power waves. Status information may include, for example, presentlocation information of the device 105, amount of energy (e.g., voltage)received, amount of energy used, and user account information, amongother types of information. Further, in some implementations, thereceiver 103 b (including the rectifier that it contains) may beintegrated into the client device 105 b. In such implementations, thereceiver 103 b, wire 111, and client device 105 b may be a single unitcontained in a single packaging.

4. Control Signals

In some embodiments, control signals may serve as data inputs used by acontroller and/or by the various antenna elements responsible forcontrolling production of power waves and/or pocket-forming. Controlsignals may be produced by the receiver 103 or the transmitter 101 usingan external power supply (not shown) and a local oscillator chip (notshown), which in some cases may include using a piezoelectric material.Control signals may be RF waves or any other communication medium orprotocol capable of communicating data between processors, such asBluetooth®, RFID, infrared, near-field communication (NFC). As detailedlater, control signals may be used to convey information between thetransmitter 101 and the receiver 103 used to adjust the power waves, aswell as contain information related to status, efficiency, user data,power consumption, billing, geo-location, and other types ofinformation.

5. Detectors

A detector 107 may comprise hardware similar to receivers 103, which mayallow the detector 107 to receive power waves originating from one ormore transmitters 101. The detector 107 may be used by users to identifythe location of pockets of energy 104, so that users may determine thepreferable placement of a receiver 103. In some embodiments, thedetector 107 may comprise an indicator light 108 that indicates when thedetector is placed within the pocket of energy 104. As an example, inFIG. 1, detectors 107 a, 107 b are located within the pocket of energy104 generated by the transmitter 101, which may trigger the detectors107 a, 107 b to turn on their respective indicator lights 108 a, 108 b,because the detectors 107 a, 107 b are receiving power waves of thepocket of energy 104; whereas, the indicator light 108 c of a thirddetector 107 c located outside of the pockets of energy 104, is turnedoff, because the third detector 107 c is not receiving the power wavesfrom the transmitter 101. It should be appreciated that the functions ofa detector, such as the indicator light, may be integrated into areceiver or into a client device in alternative embodiments as well.

6. Client Device

A client device 105 may be any electrical device that requirescontinuous electrical energy or that requires power from a battery.Non-limiting examples of client devices 105 may include laptops, mobilephones, smartphones, tablets, music players, toys, batteries,flashlights, lamps, electronic watches, cameras, gaming consoles,appliances, GPS devices, and wearable devices or so-called “wearables”(e.g., fitness bracelets, pedometers, smartwatch), among other types ofelectrical devices.

In some embodiments, the client device 105 a may be a physical devicedistinct from the receiver 103 a associated with the client device 105a. In such embodiments, the client device 105 a may be connected to thereceiver over a connection, for instance a wire 111, which conveysconverted electrical energy from the receiver 103 a to the client device105 a. In some cases, other types of data may be transported over theconnection, such as the wire 111, such as power consumption status,power usage metrics, device identifiers, and other types of data.

In some embodiments, the client device 105 b may be permanentlyintegrated or detachably coupled to the receiver 103 b, thereby forminga single integrated product or unit. As an example, the client device105 b may be placed into a sleeve that has embedded receivers 103 b andthat may detachably couple to the device's 105 b power supply input,which may be typically used to charge the device's 105 b battery. Inthis example, the device 105 b may be decoupled from the receiver, butmay remain in the sleeve regardless of whether or not the device 105 brequires an electrical charge or is being used. In another example, inlieu of having a battery that holds a charge for the device 105 b, thedevice 105 b may comprise an integrated receiver 105 b, which may bepermanently integrated into the device 105 b so as to form an indistinctproduct, device, or unit. In this example, the device 105 b may relyalmost entirely on the integrated receiver 103 b to produce electricalenergy by harvesting pockets of energy 104. It should be clear tosomeone skilled in the art that the connection between the receiver 103and the client device 105 may be a wire 111 or may be an electricalconnection on a circuit board or an integrated circuit, or even awireless connection, such as inductive or magnetic.

B. Method of Wireless Power Transmission

FIG. 2 shows steps of wireless power transmission, according to anexemplary method 200 embodiment.

In a first step 201, a transmitter (TX) establishes a connection orotherwise associates with a receiver (RX). That is, in some embodiments,transmitters and receivers may communicate control data over using awireless communication protocol capable of transmitting informationbetween two processors of electrical devices (e.g., Bluetooth®,Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, NFC, ZigBee®). For example, inembodiments implementing Bluetooth® or Bluetooth® variants, thetransmitter may scan for receiver's broadcasting advertisement signalsor a receiver may transmit an advertisement signal to the transmitter.The advertisement signal may announce the receiver's presence to thetransmitter, and may trigger an association between the transmitter andthe receiver. As described herein, in some embodiments, theadvertisement signal may communicate information that may be used byvarious devices (e.g., transmitters, client devices, sever computers,other receivers) to execute and manage pocket-forming procedures.Information contained within the advertisement signal may include adevice identifier (e.g., MAC address, IP address, UUID), the voltage ofelectrical energy received, client device power consumption, and othertypes of data related to power transmission. The transmitter may use theadvertisement signal transmitted to identify the receiver and, in somecases, locate the receiver in a two-dimensional space or in athree-dimensional space. Once the transmitter identifies the receiver,the transmitter may establish the connection associated in thetransmitter with the receiver, allowing the transmitter and receiver tocommunicate control signals over a second channel.

In a next step 203, the transmitter may use the advertisement signal todetermine a set of power waves features for transmitting the powerwaves, to then establish the pockets of energy. Non-limiting examples offeatures of power waves may include frequency, phase, gain, amplitude,magnitude, and direction among others. The transmitter may useinformation contained in the receiver's advertisement signal, or insubsequent control signals received from the receiver, to determine howto produce and transmit the power waves so that the receiver may receivethe power waves. In some cases, the transmitter may transmit power wavesin a way that establishes a pocket of energy, from which the receivermay harvest electrical energy. In some embodiments, the transmitter maycomprise a processor executing software modules capable of automaticallyidentifying the power waves features needed to establish a pocket ofenergy based on information received from the receiver, such as thevoltage of the electrical energy harvested by the receiver from thepower waves. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, thefunctions of the processor and/or the software modules may beimplemented in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the advertisementsignal or subsequent signal transmitted by the receiver over a secondcommunications channel may indicate one or more power waves features,which the transmitter may then use to produce and transmit power wavesto establish a pocket of energy. For example, in some cases thetransmitter may automatically identify the phase and gain necessary fortransmitting the power waves based on the location of the device and thetype of device or receiver; and, in some cases, the receiver may informthe transmitter the phase and gain for effectively transmitting thepower waves.

In a next step 205, after the transmitter determines the appropriatefeatures to use when transmitting the power waves, the transmitter maybegin transmitting power waves, over a separate channel from the controlsignals. Power waves may be transmitted to establish a pocket of energy.The transmitter's antenna elements may transmit the power waves suchthat the power waves converge in a two-dimensional or three-dimensionalspace around the receiver. The resulting field around the receiver formsa pocket of energy from which the receiver may harvest electricalenergy. One antenna element may be used to transmit power waves toestablish two-dimensional energy transmissions; and in some cases, asecond or additional antenna element may be used to transmit power wavesin order to establish a three-dimensional pocket of energy. In somecases, a plurality of antenna elements may be used to transmit powerwaves in order to establish the pocket of energy. Moreover, in somecases, the plurality of antennas may include all of the antennas in thetransmitter; and, in some cases, the plurality of antennas may include anumber of the antennas in the transmitter, but fewer than all of theantennas of the transmitter.

As previously mentioned, the transmitter may produce and transmit powerwaves, according to a determined set of power waves features, which maybe produced and transmitted using an external power source and a localoscillator chip comprising a piezoelectric material. The transmitter maycomprise an RFIC that controls production and transmission of the powerwaves based on information related to power transmission andpocket-forming received from the receiver. This control data may becommunicated over a different channel from the power waves, usingwireless communications protocols, such as BLE, NFC, or ZigBee®. TheRFIC of the transmitter may automatically adjust the phase and/orrelative magnitudes of the power waves as needed. Pocket-forming isaccomplished by the transmitter transmitting the power waves in a mannerthat forms constructive interference patterns.

Antenna elements of the transmitter may use concepts of waveinterference to determine certain power waves features (e.g., directionof transmission, phase and/or frequency of power waves), whentransmitting the power waves during pocket-forming. The antenna elementsmay also use concepts of constructive interference to generate a pocketof energy, but may also utilize concepts of deconstructive interferenceto generate a transmission null in a particular physical location.

In some embodiments, the transmitter may provide power to a plurality ofreceivers using pocket-forming, which may require the transmitter toexecute a procedure for multiple pocket-forming. A transmittercomprising a plurality of antenna elements may accomplish multiplepocket-forming by automatically computing the phase and gain of powerwaves, for each antenna element of the transmitter tasked withtransmitting power waves to the respective receivers. The transmittermay compute the phase and gains independently, because multiple wavepaths for each of the power waves may be generated by the transmitter'santenna elements to transmit the power waves to the respective antennaelements of the receiver.

As an example of the computation of phase/gain adjustments for twoantenna elements of the transmitter transmitting two signals, say X andY where Y is 180 degree phase shifted version of X (Y=−X). At a physicallocation where the cumulative received waveform is X−Y, a receiverreceives X−Y=X+X=2X, whereas at a physical location where the cumulativereceived waveform is X+Y, a receiver receives X+Y=X−X=0.

In a next step 207, the receiver may harvest or otherwise receiveelectrical energy from power waves of a single unitary set or collectiveof power waves, or a pocket of energy. The receiver may comprise arectifier and AC/DC converter, which may convert the electrical energyfrom AC current to DC current, and a rectifier of the receiver may thenrectify the electrical energy, resulting in useable electrical energyfor a client device associated with the receiver, such as a laptopcomputer, smartphone, battery, toy, or other electrical device. Thereceiver may utilize the pocket of energy produced by the transmitterduring pocket-forming to charge or otherwise power the electronicdevice.

In next step 209, the receiver may generate control data containinginformation indicating the effectiveness of the single unitary set orcollective of power waves, or energy pockets providing the receiverpower waves. The receiver may then transmit control signals containingthe control data, to the transmitter. The control signals may betransmitted intermittently, depending on whether the transmitter andreceiver are communicating synchronously (i.e., the transmitter isexpecting to receive control data from the receiver). Additionally, thetransmitter may continuously transmit the power waves to the receiver,irrespective of whether the transmitter and receiver are communicatingcontrol signals. The control data may contain information related totransmitting power waves and/or establishing effective pockets ofenergy. Some of the information in the control data may inform thetransmitter how to effectively produce and transmit, and in some casesadjust, the features of the power waves. Control signals may betransmitted and received over a second channel, independent from thepower waves, using a wireless protocol capable of transmitting controldata related to power waves and/or pocket-forming, such as BLE, NFC,Wi-Fi, or the like.

As mentioned, the control data may contain information indicating theeffectiveness of the power waves of the single unitary set or collectiveof power waves, or establishing the pocket of energy. The control datamay be generated by a processor of the receiver monitoring variousaspects of receiver and/or the client device associated with thereceiver. The control data may be based on various types of information,such as the voltage of electrical energy received from the power waves,the quality of the power waves reception, the quality of the batterycharge or quality of the power reception, and location or motion of thereceiver, among other types of information useful for adjusting thepower waves and/or pocket-forming.

In some embodiments, a receiver may determine the amount of power beingreceived from power waves transmitted from the transmitter and may thenindicate that the transmitter should “split” or segment the power wavesinto less-powerful power waves. The less-powerful power waves may bebounced off objects or walls nearby the device, thereby reducing theamount of power being transmitted directly from the transmitter to thereceiver.

In a next step 211, the transmitter may calibrate the antennastransmitting the power waves, so that the antennas transmit power waveshaving a more effective set of features (e.g., direction, frequency,phase, gain, amplitude). In some embodiments, a processor of thetransmitter may automatically determine more effective features forproducing and transmitting the power waves based on a control signalreceived from the receiver. The control signal may contain control data,and may be transmitted by the receiver using any number of wirelesscommunication protocols (e.g., BLE, Wi-Fi, ZigBee®). The control datamay contain information expressly indicating the more effective featuresfor the power transmission waves; or the transmitter may automaticallydetermine the more effective features based on the waveform features ofthe control signal (e.g., phase, frequency, amplitude). The transmittermay then automatically reconfigure the antennas to transmit recalibratedpower waves according to the newly determined more-effective features.For example, the processor of the transmitter may adjust gain and/orphase of the power waves, among other features of power transmissionfeature, to adjust for a change in location of the receiver, after auser moved the receiver outside of the three-dimensional space where thepocket of energy is established.

C. System Architecture of Power Transmission System

FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture 300 for wireless power transmissionusing pocket-forming, according to an exemplary embodiment.“Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more power transmissionwaves 342 that converge at a location in three-dimensional space,resulting in constructive interference patterns at that location. Atransmitter 302 may transmit and/or broadcast controlled powertransmission waves 342 (e.g., microwaves, radio waves, ultrasound waves)that may converge in three-dimensional space. These power transmissionwaves 342 may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitudeadjustments to form constructive interference patterns (pocket-forming)in locations where a pocket of energy is intended. It should beunderstood also that the transmitter can use the same principles tocreate destructive interference in a location thereby creating atransmission null—a location where transmitted power transmission wavescancel each other out substantially and no significant energy can becollected by a receiver. In typical use cases the aiming of a powerwaves at the location of the receiver is the objective; and in othercases it may be desirable to specifically avoid power transmission to aparticular location; and in other cases it may be desirable to aim powerwaves at a location while specifically avoiding transmission to a secondlocation at the same time. The transmitter takes the use case intoaccount when calibrating antennas for power transmission.

Antenna elements 306 of the transmitter 302 may operate in single array,pair array, quad array, or any other suitable arrangement that may bedesigned in accordance with the desired application. Pockets of energymay be formed at constructive interference patterns where the powertransmission waves 342 accumulate to form a three-dimensional field ofenergy, around which one or more corresponding transmission null in aparticular physical location may be generated by destructiveinterference patterns. Transmission null in a particular physicallocation-may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energydo not form because of destructive interference patterns of powertransmission waves 342.

A receiver 320 may then utilize power transmission waves 342 emitted bythe transmitter 302 to establish a pocket of energy, for charging orpowering an electronic device 313, thus effectively providing wirelesspower transmission. Pockets of energy may refer to areas or regions ofspace where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructiveinterference patterns of power transmission waves 342. In othersituations there can be multiple transmitters 302 and/or multiplereceivers 320 for powering various electronic equipment for examplesmartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time.In other embodiments, adaptive pocket-forming may be used to regulatepower on electronic devices. Adaptive pocket-forming may refer todynamically adjusting pocket-forming to regulate power on one or moretargeted receivers.

Receiver 320 may communicate with transmitter 302 by generating a shortsignal through antenna elements 324 in order to indicate its positionwith respect to the transmitter 302. Additional or alternativeembodiments and several non-limiting examples regarding communicationbetween the receivers 320 and transmitters 302 may be found in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/856,337, entitled “Systems and Methodsfor Wireless Power Charging,” filed Sep. 16, 2015, which is incorporatedby reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, receiver 320 mayadditionally utilize a network interface card (not shown) or similarcomputer networking component to communicate through a network 340 withother devices or components of the system 300, such as a cloud computingservice that manages several collections of transmitters 302. Thereceiver 320 may comprise circuitry 308 for converting the power waves342 captured by the antenna elements 324, into electrical energy thatmay be provided to and electric device 313 and/or a battery of thedevice 315. In some embodiments, the circuitry may provide electricalenergy to a battery of receiver 335, which may store energy without theelectrical device 313 being communicatively coupled to the receiver 320.

Communications components 324 may enable receiver 320 to communicatewith the transmitter 302 by transmitting control signals 345 over awireless protocol. The wireless protocol can be a proprietary protocolor use a conventional wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth®, BLE, Wi-Fi,NFC, ZigBee, and the like. Communications component 324 may then be usedto transfer information, such as an identifier for the electronic device313, as well as battery level information, geographic location data, orother information that may be of use for transmitter 302 in determiningwhen to send power to receiver 320, as well as the location to deliverpower transmission waves 342 creating pockets of energy. In otherembodiments, adaptive pocket-forming may be used to regulate powerprovided to electronic devices 313. In such embodiments, thecommunications components 324 of the receiver may transmit voltage dataindicating the amount of power received at the receiver 320, and/or theamount of voltage provided to an electronic device 313 b or battery 315.

Once transmitter 302 identifies and locates receiver 320, a channel orpath for the control signals 345 can be established, through which thetransmitter 302 may know the gain and phases of the control signals 345coming from receiver 320. Antenna elements 306 of the transmitter 302may start to transmit or broadcast controlled power transmission waves342 (e.g., radio frequency waves, ultrasound waves), which may convergein three-dimensional space by using at least two antenna elements 306 tomanipulate the power transmission waves 342 emitted from the respectiveantenna element 306. These power transmission waves 342 may be producedby using an external power source and a local oscillator chip using asuitable piezoelectric material. The power transmission waves 342 may becontrolled by transmitter circuitry 301, which may include a proprietarychip for adjusting phase and/or relative magnitudes of powertransmission waves 342. The phase, gain, amplitude, and other waveformfeatures of the power transmission waves 342 may serve as inputs forantenna element 306 to form constructive and destructive interferencepatterns (pocket-forming). In some implementations, a micro-controller310 or other circuit of the transmitter 302 may produce a power waves,which comprises power transmission waves 342, and that may be may splitinto multiple outputs by transmitter circuitry 301, depending on thenumber of antenna elements 306 connected to the transmitter circuitry301. For example, if four antenna elements 306 a-d are connected to onetransmitter circuit 301 a, the power waves will be split into fourdifferent outputs each output going to an antenna element 306 to betransmitted as power transmission waves 342 originating from therespective antenna elements 306.

Pocket-forming may take advantage of interference to change thedirectionality of the antenna element 306 where constructiveinterference generates a pocket of energy and destructive interferencegenerates a transmission null. Receiver 320 may then utilize pocket ofenergy produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering an electronicdevice and therefore effectively providing wireless power transmission.

Multiple pocket-forming may be achieved by computing the phase and gainfrom each antenna 306 of transmitter 302 to each receiver 320.

D. Components of Systems Forming Pockets of Energy

FIG. 4 shows components of an exemplary system 400 of wireless powertransmission using pocket-forming procedures. The system 400 maycomprise one or more transmitters 402, one or more receivers 420, andone or more client devices 446.

1. Transmitters

Transmitters 402 may be any device capable of broadcasting wirelesspower waves, which may be RF waves 442, for wireless power transmission,as described herein. Transmitters 402 may be responsible for performingtasks related to transmitting power waves, which may includepocket-forming, adaptive pocket-forming, and multiple pocket-forming. Insome implementations, transmitters 402 may transmit wireless powertransmissions to receivers 420 in the form of RF waves, which mayinclude any radio signal having any frequency or wavelength. Atransmitter 402 may include one or more antenna elements 406, one ormore RFICs 408, one or more microcontrollers 410, one or morecommunication components 412, a power source 414, and a housing that mayallocate all the requested components for the transmitter 402. Thevarious components of transmitters 402 may comprise, and/or may bemanufactured using, meta-materials, micro-printing of circuits,nano-materials, and the like.

In the exemplary system 400, the transmitter 402 may transmit orotherwise broadcast controlled RF waves 442 that converge at a locationin three-dimensional space, thereby forming a pocket of energy 444.These RF waves may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitudeadjustments to form constructive or destructive interference patterns(i.e., pocket-forming). Pockets of energy 444 may be fields formed atconstructive interference patterns and may be three-dimensional inshape; whereas transmission null in a particular physical location maybe generated at destructive interference patterns. Receivers 420 mayharvest electrical energy from the pockets of energy 444 produced bypocket-forming for charging or powering an electronic client device 446(e.g., a laptop computer, a cell phone). In some embodiments, the system400 may comprise multiple transmitters 402 and/or multiple receivers420, for powering various electronic equipment. Non-limiting examples ofclient devices 446 may include: smartphones, tablets, music players,toys and others at the same time. In some embodiments, adaptivepocket-forming may be used to regulate power on electronic devices.

2. Receivers

Receivers 420 may include a housing where at least one antenna element424, one rectifier 426, one power converter 428, and a communicationscomponent 430 may be included.

Housing of the receiver 420 can be made of any material capable offacilitating signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for exampleplastic or hard rubber. Housing may be an external hardware that may beadded to different electronic equipment, for example in the form ofcases, or can be embedded within electronic equipment as well.

3. Antenna Elements

Antenna elements 424 of the receiver 420 may comprise any type ofantenna capable of transmitting and/or receiving signals in frequencybands used by the transmitter 402A. Antenna elements 424 may includevertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left handpolarization, elliptical polarization, or other polarizations, as wellas any number of polarization combinations. Using multiple polarizationscan be beneficial in devices where there may not be a preferredorientation during usage or whose orientation may vary continuouslythrough time, for example a smartphone or portable gaming system. Fordevices having a well-defined expected orientation (e.g., a two-handedvideo game controller), there might be a preferred polarization forantennas, which may dictate a ratio for the number of antennas of agiven polarization. Types of antennas in antenna elements 424 of thereceiver 420, may include patch antennas, which may have heights fromabout ⅛ inch to about 6 inches and widths from about ⅛ inch to about 6inches. Patch antennas may preferably have polarization that dependsupon connectivity, i.e., the polarization may vary depending on fromwhich side the patch is fed. In some embodiments, the type of antennamay be any type of antenna, such as patch antennas, capable ofdynamically varying the antenna polarization to optimize wireless powertransmission.

4. Rectifier

Rectifiers 426 of the receiver 420 may include diodes, resistors,inductors, and/or capacitors to rectify alternating current (AC) voltagegenerated by antenna elements 424 to direct current (DC) voltage.Rectifiers 426 may be placed as close as is technically possible toantenna elements A24B to minimize losses in electrical energy gatheredfrom power waves. After rectifying AC voltage, the resulting DC voltagemay be regulated using power converters 428. Power converters 428 can bea DC-to-DC converter that may help provide a constant voltage output,regardless of input, to an electronic device, or as in this exemplarysystem 400, to a battery. Typical voltage outputs can be from about 5volts to about 10 volts. In some embodiments, power converter mayinclude electronic switched mode DC-DC converters, which can providehigh efficiency. In such embodiments, the receiver 420 may comprise acapacitor (not shown) that is situated to receive the electrical energybefore power converters 428. The capacitor may ensure sufficient currentis provided to an electronic switching device (e.g., switch mode DC-DCconverter), so it may operate effectively. When charging an electronicdevice, for example a phone or laptop computer, initial high-currentsthat can exceed the minimum voltage needed to activate operation of anelectronic switched mode DC-DC converter, may be required. In such acase, a capacitor (not shown) may be added at the output of receivers420 to provide the extra energy required. Afterwards, lower power can beprovided. For example, 1/80 of the total initial power that may be usedwhile having the phone or laptop still build-up charge.

5. Communications Component

A communications component 430 of a receiver 420 may communicate withone or more other devices of the system 400, such as other receivers420, client devices, and/or transmitters 402. Different antenna,rectifier or power converter arrangements are possible for a receiver aswill be explained in following embodiments.

E. Methods of Pocket Forming for a Plurality of Devices

FIG. 5 shows steps of powering a plurality of receiver devices,according to an exemplary embodiment.

In a first step 501, a transmitter (TX) establishes a connection orotherwise associates with a receiver (RX). That is, in some embodiments,transmitters and receivers may communicate control data over using awireless communication protocol capable of transmitting informationbetween two processors of electrical devices (e.g., Bluetooth®, BLE,Wi-Fi, NFC, ZigBee®). For example, in embodiments implement Bluetooth®or Bluetooth® variants, the transmitter may scan for receiver'sbroadcasting advertisement signals or a receiver may transmit anadvertisement signal to the transmitter. The advertisement signal mayannounce the receiver's presence to the transmitter, and may trigger anassociation between the transmitter and the receiver. As describedlater, in some embodiments, the advertisement signal may communicateinformation that may be used by various devices (e.g., transmitters,client devices, sever computers, other receivers) to execute and managepocket-forming procedures. Information contained within theadvertisement signal may include a device identifier (e.g., MAC address,IP address, UUID), the voltage of electrical energy received, clientdevice power consumption, and other types of data related to powertransmission waves. The transmitter may use the advertisement signaltransmitted to identify the receiver and, in some cases, locate thereceiver in a two-dimensional space or in a three-dimensional space.Once the transmitter identifies the receiver, the transmitter mayestablish the connection associated in the transmitter with thereceiver, allowing the transmitter and receiver to communicate controlsignals over a second channel.

As an example, when a receiver comprising a Bluetooth® processor ispowered-up or is brought within a detection range of the transmitter,the Bluetooth processor may begin advertising the receiver according toBluetooth® standards. The transmitter may recognize the advertisementand begin establishing connection for communicating control signals andpower waves. In some embodiments, the advertisement signal may containunique identifiers so that the transmitter may distinguish thatadvertisement and ultimately that receiver from all the other Bluetooth®devices nearby within range.

In a next step 503, when the transmitter detects the advertisementsignal, the transmitter may automatically form a communicationconnection with that receiver, which may allow the transmitter andreceiver to communicate control signals and power waves. The transmittermay then command that receiver to begin transmitting real-time sampledata or control data. The transmitter may also begin transmitting powerwaves from antennas of the transmitter's antenna array.

In a next step 505, the receiver may then measure the voltage, amongother metrics related to effectiveness of the power waves, based on theelectrical energy received by the receiver's antennas. The receiver maygenerate control data containing the measured information, and thentransmit control signals containing the control data to the transmitter.For example, the receiver may sample the voltage measurements ofreceived electrical energy, for example, at a rate of 100 times persecond. The receiver may transmit the voltage sample measurement back tothe transmitter, 100 times a second, in the form of control signals.

In a next step 507, the transmitter may execute one or more softwaremodules monitoring the metrics, such as voltage measurements, receivedfrom the receiver. Algorithms may vary production and transmission ofpower waves by the transmitter's antennas, to maximize the effectivenessof the pockets of energy around the receiver. For example, thetransmitter may adjust the phase at which the transmitter's antennatransmit the power waves, until that power received by the receiverindicates an effectively established pocket energy around the receiver.When an optimal configuration for the antennas is identified, memory ofthe transmitter may store the configurations to keep the transmitterbroadcasting at that highest level.

In a next step 509, algorithms of the transmitter may determine when itis necessary to adjust the power waves and may also vary theconfiguration of the transmit antennas, in response to determining suchadjustments are necessary. For example, the transmitter may determinethe power received at a receiver is less than maximal, based on the datareceived from the receiver. The transmitter may then automaticallyadjust the phase of the power waves, but may also simultaneouslycontinues to receive and monitor the voltage being reported back fromreceiver.

In a next step 511, after a determined period of time for communicatingwith a particular receiver, the transmitter may scan and/orautomatically detect advertisements from other receivers that may be inrange of the transmitter. The transmitters may establish a connection tothe second receiver responsive to Bluetooth® advertisements from asecond receiver.

In a next step 513, after establishing a second communication connectionwith the second receiver, the transmitter may proceed to adjust one ormore antennas in the transmitter's antenna array. In some embodiments,the transmitter may identify a subset of antennas to service the secondreceiver, thereby parsing the array into subsets of arrays that areassociated with a receiver. In some embodiments, the entire antennaarray may service a first receiver for a given period of time, and thenthe entire array may service the second receiver for that period oftime.

Manual or automated processes performed by the transmitter may select asubset of arrays to service the second receiver. In this example, thetransmitter's array may be split in half, forming two subsets. As aresult, half of the antennas may be configured to transmit power wavesto the first receiver, and half of the antennas may be configured forthe second receiver. In the current step 513, the transmitter may applysimilar techniques discussed above to configure or optimize the subsetof antennas for the second receiver. While selecting a subset of anarray for transmitting power waves, the transmitter and second receivermay be communicating control data. As a result, by the time that thetransmitter alternates back to communicating with the first receiverand/or scan for new receivers, the transmitter has already received asufficient amount of sample data to adjust the phases of the wavestransmitted by second subset of the transmitter's antenna array, totransmit power transmission waves to the second receiver effectively.

In a next step 515, after adjusting the second subset to transmit powerwaves to the second receiver, the transmitter may alternate back tocommunicating control data with the first receiver, or scanning foradditional receivers. The transmitter may reconfigure the antennas ofthe first subset, and then alternate between the first and secondreceivers at a predetermined interval.

In a next step 517, the transmitter may continue to alternate betweenreceivers and scanning for new receivers, at a predetermined interval.As each new receiver is detected, the transmitter may establish aconnection and begin transmitting power waves, accordingly.

In one exemplary embodiment, the receiver may be electrically connectedto a device like a smart phone. The transmitter's processor would scanfor any Bluetooth devices. The receiver may begin advertising that it'sa Bluetooth device through the Bluetooth chip. Inside the advertisement,there may be unique identifiers so that the transmitter, when it scannedthat advertisement, could distinguish that advertisement and ultimatelythat receiver from all the other Bluetooth devices nearby within range.When the transmitter detects that advertisement and notices it is areceiver, then the transmitter may immediately form a communicationconnection with that receiver and command that receiver to begin sendingreal time sample data.

The receiver would then measure the voltage at its receiving antennas,send that voltage sample measurement back to the transmitter (e.g., 100times a second). The transmitter may start to vary the configuration ofthe transmit antennas by adjusting the phase. As the transmitter adjuststhe phase, the transmitter monitors the voltage being sent back from thereceiver. In some implementations, the higher the voltage, the moreenergy may be in the pocket. The antenna phases may be altered until thevoltage is at the highest level and there is a maximum pocket of energyaround the receiver. The transmitter may keep the antennas at theparticular phase so the voltage is at the highest level.

The transmitter may vary each individual antenna according to the datafeedback, such as the voltage measurements, received from the receiver.For example, if there are 32 antennas in the transmitter, and eachantenna has 8 phases, the transmitter may begin with the first antennaand would step the first antenna through all 8 phases. The receiver maythen send back the power level for each of the 8 phases of the firstantenna. The transmitter may then store the highest phase for the firstantenna. The transmitter may repeat this process for the second antenna,and step it through 8 phases. The receiver may again send back the powerlevels from each phase, and the transmitter may store the highest level.Next the transmitter may repeat the process for the third antenna andcontinue to repeat the process until all 32 antennas have steppedthrough the 8 phases. At the end of the process, the transmitter maytransmit the maximum voltage in the most efficient manner to thereceiver.

In another exemplary embodiment, the transmitter may detect a secondreceiver's advertisement and form a communication connection with thesecond receiver. When the transmitter forms the communication with thesecond receiver, the transmitter may aim the original 32 antennastowards the second receiver and repeat the phase process for each of the32 antennas aimed at the second receiver. Once the process is completed,the second receiver may be getting as much power as possible from thetransmitter. The transmitter may communicate with the second receiverfor a predetermined period of time (e.g., a second), and then alternateback to the first receiver for a predetermined period of time (e.g., asecond), and the transmitter may continue to alternate back and forthbetween the first receiver and the second receiver at the predeterminedtime intervals.

In yet another implementation, the transmitter may detect a secondreceiver's advertisement and form a communication connection with thesecond receiver. First, the transmitter may communicate with the firstreceiver and re-assign half of the exemplary 32 the antennas aimed atthe first receiver, dedicating only 16 towards the first receiver. Thetransmitter may then assign the second half of the antennas to thesecond receiver, dedicating 16 antennas to the second receiver. Thetransmitter may adjust the phases for the second half of the antennas.Once the 16 antennas have gone through each of the 8 phases, the secondreceiver may be obtaining the maximum voltage in the most efficientmanner to the receiver.

In some embodiments, transmitters and receivers may use control signalsto wirelessly communicate information relating to the receiver'slocation, which may include an express indication of where the receiveris located, or may include data that the transmitter or related device(e.g., separate sensor) may use to determine the location of thereceiver, such as mapping data, heat-map data, and data that is specificto the particular wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth® UUID, MACaddress), among other types of data. The transmitter may use the datacommunicated via the control signals from one or more receivers todetermine, for example, where receivers are located with respect to oneor more transmitters, and where or where not to transmit power waves,where to generate pockets of energy. The transmitter may use thislocation data derived from the feedback data in the control signals asinput parameters for determining how to generate and transmit powerwaves. Because the transmitter has determined that a particular receiveris, for example, a certain distance from the transmitter, a certainheight, and is located at a particular lateral angle from thetransmitter, the transmitter can determine a set of coordinates (X, Y,Z) for the location where constructive interference patterns should beestablished. The transmitter may then determine, for example, thephysical waveform characteristics for the power waves and which antennasor antenna arrays should be used to transmit the power waves, so thatthe power waves converge to form the constructive interference patternat the desired location.

F. Wireless Power Transmission with Selective Range

1. Constructive Interference

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show an exemplary system 600 implementing wirelesspower transmission principles that may be implemented during exemplarypocket-forming processes. A transmitter 601 comprising a plurality ofantennas in an antenna array, may adjust the frequency, phase, andamplitude, among other possible attributes, of power transmission waves607, being transmitted from antennas of the transmitter 601. As shown inFIG. 6A, in the absence of any phase or amplitude adjustment, powertransmission waves 607 a may be transmitted from each of the antennaswill arrive at different locations and have different phases. Thesedifferences are often due to the different distances from each antennaelement of the transmitter 601 a to a receiver 605 a or receivers 605 a,located at the respective locations.

Continuing with FIG. 6A, a receiver 605 a may receive multiple powerwaves, each comprising power transmission waves 607 a, from multipleantenna elements of a transmitter 601 a; the composite of these powerwaves may be essentially zero, because in this example, the powertransmission waves add together destructively. That is, antenna elementsof the transmitter 601 a may transmit the exact same power waves (i.e.,power waves 607 a having the same features, such as phase andamplitude), and as such, when the power waves 607 a of the respectivepower waves arrive at the receiver 605 a, they are offset from eachother by 180 degrees. Consequently, the power transmission waves 607 aof these power waves “cancel” one another. Generally, signals offsettingone another in this way may be referred to as “destructive,” and thusresult in “destructive interference.”

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 6B, constructive interference patternscomprising power waves 607 b arriving at the receiver exactly “in phase”with one another, combine to increase the amplitude of the each signal,resulting in a composite that is stronger than each of the constituentsignals. In the illustrative example in FIG. 6A, note that the phase ofthe power transmission waves 607 a in the transmit signals are the sameat the location of transmission, and then eventually add updestructively at the location of the receiver 605 a. In contrast, inFIG. 6B, the phase of the power waves 607 b of the transmit signals areadjusted at the location of transmission, such that they arrive at thereceiver 605 b in phase alignment, and consequently they addconstructively. In this illustrative example, there will be a resultingpocket of energy located around the receiver 605 b in FIG. 6B; and therewill be a transmission null located around receiver in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 depicts wireless power transmission with selective range 700,where a transmitter 702 may produce pocket-forming for a plurality ofreceivers associated with electrical devices 701. Transmitter 702 maygenerate pocket-forming through wireless power transmission withselective range 700, which may include one or more wireless chargingradii 704 and one or more radii of a transmission null at a particularphysical location 706. A plurality of electronic devices 701 may becharged or powered in wireless charging radii 704. Thus, several spotsof energy may be created, such spots may be employed for enablingrestrictions for powering and charging electronic devices 701. As anexample, the restrictions may include operating specific electronics ina specific or limited spot, contained within wireless charging radii704. Furthermore, safety restrictions may be implemented by the use ofwireless power transmission with selective range 700, such safetyrestrictions may avoid pockets of energy over areas or zones whereenergy needs to be avoided, such areas may include areas includingsensitive equipment to pockets of energy and/or people which do not wantpockets of energy over and/or near them. In embodiments such as the oneshown in FIG. 7, the transmitter 702 may comprise antenna elements foundon a different plane than the receivers associated with electricaldevices 701 in the served area. For example the receivers of electricaldevices 701 may be in a room where a transmitter 702 may be mounted onthe ceiling. Selective ranges for establishing pockets of energy usingpower waves, which may be represented as concentric circles by placingan antenna array of the transmitter 702 on the ceiling or other elevatedlocation, and the transmitter 702 may emit power waves that willgenerate ‘cones’ of energy pockets. In some embodiments, the transmitter701 may control the radius of each charging radii 704, therebyestablishing intervals for service area to create pockets of energy thatare pointed down to an area at a lower plane, which may adjust the widthof the cone through appropriate selection of antenna phase andamplitudes.

FIG. 8 depicts wireless power transmission with selective range 800,where a transmitter 802 may produce pocket-forming for a plurality ofreceivers 806. Transmitter 802 may generate pocket-forming throughwireless power transmission with selective range 800, which may includeone or more wireless charging spots 804. A plurality of electronicdevices may be charged or powered in wireless charging spots 804.Pockets of energy may be generated over a plurality of receivers 806regardless of the obstacles 804 surrounding them. Pockets of energy maybe generated by creating constructive interference, according to theprinciples described herein, in wireless charging spots 804. Location ofpockets of energy may be performed by tacking receivers 806 and byenabling a plurality of communication protocols by a variety ofcommunication systems such as, Bluetooth® technology, infraredcommunication, Wi-Fi, FM radio, among others.

G. Exemplary System Embodiment Using Heat Maps

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a diagram of architecture 900A, 900B for awirelessly charging client computing platform, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In some implementations, a user may be inside a room and mayhold on his hands an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet). Insome implementations, electronic device may be on furniture inside theroom. The electronic device may include a receiver 920A, 920B eitherembedded to the electronic device or as a separate adapter connected toelectronic device. Receivers 920A, 920B may include all the componentsdescribed in FIG. 11. A transmitter 902A, 902B may be hanging on one ofthe walls of the room right behind user. Transmitters 902A, 902B mayalso include all the components described in FIG. 11.

As user may seem to be obstructing the path between receivers 920A, 920Band transmitters 902A, 902B, RF waves may not be easily aimed to thereceivers 920A, 920B in a linear direction. However, since the shortsignals generated from receivers 920A, 920B may be omni-directional forthe type of antenna element used, these signals may bounce over thewalls 944A, 944B until they reach transmitters 902A, 902B. A hot spot944A, 944B may be any item in the room which will reflect the RF waves.For example, a large metal clock on the wall may be used to reflect theRF waves to a user's cell phone.

A micro controller in the transmitter adjusts the transmitted signalfrom each antenna based on the signal received from the receiver.Adjustment may include forming conjugates of the signal phases receivedfrom the receivers and further adjustment of transmit antenna phasestaking into account the built-in phase of antenna elements. The antennaelement may be controlled simultaneously to steer energy in a givendirection. The transmitter 902A, 902B may scan the room, and look forhot spots 944A, 944B. Once calibration is performed, transmitters 902A,902B may focus RF waves in a channel following a path that may be themost efficient paths. Subsequently, RF signals 942A, 942B may form apocket of energy on a first electronic device and another pocket ofenergy in a second electronic device while avoiding obstacles such asuser and furniture.

When scanning the service area, the room in FIGS. 9A and 9B, thetransmitter 902A, 902B may employ different methods. As an illustrativeexample, but without limiting the possible methods that can be used, thetransmitter 902A, 902B may detect the phases and magnitudes of thesignal coming from the receiver and use those to form the set oftransmit phases and magnitudes, for example by calculating conjugates ofthem and applying them at transmit. As another illustrative example, thetransmitter may apply all possible phases of transmit antennas insubsequent transmissions, one at a time, and detect the strength of thepocket of energy formed by each combination by observing informationrelated to the signal from the receiver 920A, 920B. Then the transmitter902A, 902B repeats this calibration periodically. In someimplementations, the transmitter 902A, 902B does not have to searchthrough all possible phases, and can search through a set of phases thatare more likely to result in strong pockets of energy based on priorcalibration values. In yet another illustrative example, the transmitter902A, 902B may use preset values of transmit phases for the antennas toform pockets of energy directed to different locations in the room. Thetransmitter may for example scan the physical space in the room from topto bottom and left to right by using preset phase values for antennas insubsequent transmissions. The transmitter 902A, 902B then detects thephase values that result in the strongest pocket of energy around thereceiver 920 a, 920 b by observing the signal from the receiver 920 a,920 b. It should be appreciated that there are other possible methodsfor scanning a service area for heat mapping that may be employed,without deviating from the scope or spirit of the embodiments describedherein. The result of a scan, whichever method is used, is a heat-map ofthe service area (e.g., room, store) from which the transmitter 902A,902B may identify the hot spots that indicate the best phase andmagnitude values to use for transmit antennas in order to maximize thepocket of energy around the receiver.

The transmitters 902A, 902B, may use the Bluetooth connection todetermine the location of the receivers 920A, 920B, and may usedifferent non-overlapping parts of the RF band to channel the RF wavesto different receivers 920A, 920B. In some implementations, thetransmitters 902A, 902B, may conduct a scan of the room to determine thelocation of the receivers 920A, 920B and forms pockets of energy thatare orthogonal to each other, by virtue of non-overlapping RFtransmission bands. Using multiple pockets of energy to direct energy toreceivers may inherently be safer than some alternative powertransmission methods since no single transmission is very strong, whilethe aggregate power waves received at the receiver is strong.

H. Exemplary System Embodiment

FIG. 10A illustrates wireless power transmission using multiplepocket-forming 1000A that may include one transmitter 1002A and at leasttwo or more receivers 1020A. Receivers 1020A may communicate withtransmitters 1002A, which is further described in FIG. 11. Oncetransmitter 1002A identifies and locates receivers 1020A using anynumber of techniques, transmitter 1002A may start to transmit controlledRF waves 1042A which may converge in three-dimensional space by using aminimum of two antenna elements. These RF waves 1042A may be producedusing an external power source and a local oscillator chip using asuitable piezoelectric material. RF waves 1042A may be controlled byRFIC, which may include a proprietary chip for adjusting phase and/orrelative magnitudes of RF signals that may serve as inputs for antennaelements to form constructive and destructive interference patterns(pocket-forming). Pocket-forming may take advantage of interference tochange the directionality of the antenna elements where constructiveinterference generates a pocket of energy 1060A and deconstructiveinterference generates a transmission null. Receivers 1020A may thenutilize pocket of energy 1060A produced by pocket-forming for chargingor powering an electronic device, for example, a laptop computer 1062Aand a smartphone 1052A and thus effectively providing wireless powertransmission.

Multiple pocket forming 1000A may be achieved by computing the phase andgain from each antenna of transmitter 1002A to each receiver 1020A. Thecomputation may be calculated independently because multiple paths maybe generated by antenna element from transmitter 1002A to antennaelement from receivers 1020A.

I. Exemplary System Embodiment

FIG. 10B is an exemplary illustration of multiple adaptivepocket-forming 1000B. In this embodiment, a user may be inside a roomand may hold on his hands an electronic device, which in this case maybe a tablet 1064B. In addition, smartphone 1052B may be on furnitureinside the room. Tablet 1064B and smartphone 1052B may each include areceiver either embedded to each electronic device or as a separateadapter connected to tablet 1064B and smartphone 1052B. Receiver mayinclude all the components described in FIG. 11. A transmitter 1002B maybe hanging on one of the walls of the room right behind user.Transmitter 1002B may also include all the components described in FIG.11. As user may seem to be obstructing the path between receiver andtransmitter 1002B, RF waves 1042B may not be easily aimed to eachreceiver in a line of sight fashion. However, since the short signalsgenerated from receivers may be omni-directional for the type of antennaelements used, these signals may bounce over the walls until they findtransmitter 1002B. Almost instantly, a micro-controller which may residein transmitter 1002B, may recalibrate the transmitted signals, based onthe received signals sent by each receiver, by adjusting gain and phasesand forming a convergence of the power waves such that they add togetherand strengthen the energy concentrated at that location—in contrast toadding together in a way to subtract from each other and diminish theenergy concentrated at that location, which is called “destructiveinterference” and conjugates of the signal phases received from thereceivers and further adjustment of transmit antenna phases taking intoaccount the built-in phase of antenna elements. Once calibration isperformed, transmitter 1002B may focus RF waves following the mostefficient paths. Subsequently, a pocket of energy 1060B may form ontablet 1064B and another pocket of energy 1060B in smartphone 1052Bwhile taking into account obstacles such as user and furniture. Theforegoing property may be beneficial in that wireless power transmissionusing multiple pocket-forming 1000B may inherently be safe astransmission along each pocket of energy is not very strong, and that RFtransmissions generally reflect from living tissue and do not penetrate.

Once transmitter 1002B identities and locates receiver, transmitter1002B may start to transmit controlled RF waves 1042B that may convergein three-dimensional space by using a minimum of two antenna elements.These RF waves 1042B may be produced using an external power source anda local oscillator chip using a suitable piezoelectric material. RFwaves 1042B may be controlled by RFIC that may include a proprietarychip for adjusting phase and/or relative magnitudes of RF signals, whichmay serve as inputs for antenna elements to form constructive anddestructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pocket-forming maytake advantage of interference to change the directionality of theantenna elements where constructive interference generates a pocket ofenergy and deconstructive interference generates a null in a particularphysical location. Receiver may then utilize pocket of energy producedby pocket-forming for charging or powering an electronic device, forexample a laptop computer and a smartphone and thus effectivelyproviding wireless power transmission.

Multiple pocket-forming 1000B may be achieved by computing the phase andgain from each antenna of transmitter to each receiver. The computationmay be calculated independently because multiple paths may be generatedby antenna elements from transmitter to antenna elements from receiver.

An example of the computation for at least two antenna elements mayinclude determining the phase of the signal from the receiver andapplying the conjugate of the receive parameters to the antenna elementsfor transmission.

In some embodiments, two or more receivers may operate at differentfrequencies to avoid power losses during wireless power transmission.This may be achieved by including an array of multiple embedded antennaelements in transmitter 1002B. In one embodiment, a single frequency maybe transmitted by each antenna in the array. In other embodiments someof the antennas in the array may be used to transmit at a differentfrequency. For example, ½ of the antennas in the array may operate at2.4 GHz while the other ½ may operate at 5.8 GHz. In another example, ⅓of the antennas in the array may operate at 900 MHz, another ⅓ mayoperate at 2.4 GHz, and the remaining antennas in the array may operateat 5.8 GHz. It should be appreciated that the antennas may be capable oftransmitting a nearly any frequency in the ISM band, ranging fromroughly 900 MHz to about 300 GHz.

In another embodiment, each array of antenna elements may be virtuallydivided into one or more antenna elements during wireless powertransmission, where each set of antenna elements in the array cantransmit at a different frequency. For example, an antenna element ofthe transmitter may transmit power waves at 2.4 GHz, but a correspondingantenna element of a receiver may be configured to receive power wavesat 5.8 GHz. In this example, a processor of the transmitter may adjustthe antenna element of the transmitter to virtually or logically dividethe antenna elements in the array into a plurality patches that may befed independently. As a result, ¼ of the array of antenna elements maybe able to transmit the 5.8 GHz needed for the receiver, while anotherset of antenna elements may transmit at 2.4 GHz. Therefore, by virtuallydividing an array of antenna elements, electronic devices coupled toreceivers can continue to receive wireless power transmission. Theforegoing may be beneficial because, for example, one set of antennaelements may transmit at about 2.4 GHz and other antenna elements maytransmit at 5.8 GHz, and thus, adjusting a number of antenna elements ina given array when working with receivers operating at differentfrequencies. In this example, the array is divided into equal sets ofantenna elements (e.g., four antenna elements), but the array may bedivided into sets of different amounts of antenna elements. In analternative embodiment, each antenna element may alternate betweenselect frequencies.

The efficiency of wireless power transmission as well as the amount ofpower that can be delivered (using pocket-forming) may be a function ofthe total number of antenna elements 1006 used in a given receivers andtransmitters system. For example, for delivering about one watt at about15 feet, a receiver may include about 80 antenna elements while atransmitter may include about 256 antenna elements. Another identicalwireless power transmission system (about 1 watt at about 15 feet) mayinclude a receiver with about 40 antenna elements, and a transmitterwith about 512 antenna elements. Reducing in half the number of antennaelements in a receiver may require doubling the number of antennaelements in a transmitter. In some embodiments, it may be beneficial toput a greater number of antenna elements in transmitters than in areceivers because of cost, because there will be much fewer transmittersthan receivers in a system-wide deployment. However, the opposite can beachieved, e.g., by placing more antenna elements on a receiver than on atransmitter as long as there are at least two antenna elements in atransmitter 1002B.

II. Wireless Power Software Management System

A. System and Method for Smart Registration of Wireless Power Receiversin a Wireless Power Network

FIG. 11 shows a wireless power system 1100 using a wireless powertransmitter manager device 1102, according to an embodiment. Wirelesspower transmitter manager device 1102 may include a processor withcomputer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM) (notshown) coupled to the processor. Examples of processor may include amicroprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), andfield programmable object array (FPOA), among others. In someembodiments, a transmitter manager device 1102 or the various hardwareand/or software components of the transmitter manager device 1102 may beintegrated into one or more transmitters. In some embodiments, atransmitter manager device 1102 may be a distinct device comprisinghardware and software components capable of performing the various tasksand processes described herein, including managing and controlling oneor more transmitters coupled to the transmitter manager device 1102through wired and/or wireless communications protocols.

Wireless power transmitter manager 1102 may transmit controlled RF wavesthat act as power waves that may converge in three-dimensional (3-D)space to a wireless power receiver 1104 for charging or powering acustomer device 1106. Although the exemplary embodiment recites the useof RF waves as power waves, the power waves may include any number ofalternative or additional techniques for transmitting energy to awireless power receiver converting the transmitted energy to electricalpower. These RF waves may be controlled through phase and/or relativeamplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interferencepatterns (pocket-forming). Pockets of energy may form at constructiveinterference patterns and can be 3-D in shape, whereas null-spaces maybe present outside the constructive interference patterns.

Wireless power receiver 1104 may be paired with customer device 1106 ormay be built into customer device 1106. Examples of customer devices1106 may include laptop computer, mobile device, smartphones, tablets,music players, and toys, among other. Wireless power transmitter manager1102 may receive customer device's signal strength from advertisementemitted by wireless power receiver 1104 for the purpose of detecting ifwireless power receiver 1104 is nearer to wireless power transmittermanager 1102 than to any other wireless power transmitter manager 1102in system 1100.

Customer device 1106 may include a graphical user interface 1112 (GUI).Graphical user interface 1112 (GUI) may receive customer device's signalstrength from advertisement emitted by wireless power receiver 1104 forthe purpose of detecting if wireless power receiver 1104 is paired withgraphical user interface 1112 (GUI).

According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmittermanager 1102 may include a device database 1116, where device database1116 may store information about all network devices, such asuniversally unique identifier (UUID), serial number, signal strength,identification of paired partner device, customer device's powerschedules and manual overrides; customer device's past and presentoperational status, battery level and charge status, hardware valuemeasurements, faults, errors, and significant events; names, customer'sauthentication or authorization names, and configuration details runningthe system, among others. Device database 1116 may also storesinformation about all system devices such as wireless power transmittermanagers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-held devices, andservers, among others. Note that authentication of devices may beperformed as well as authentication of users, giving the ability tocharge an authorized device by anyone, or giving the ability to chargeany compatible device by an authorized user.

Wireless power transmitter manager 1102, with control over wirelesspower receiver's power record, may allow sending power to a specificwireless power receiver 1104. In one embodiment, wireless powertransmitter managers 1102 may need to fulfill two conditions to controlwireless power receiver's power record in device database 1116; customerdevice's signal strength threshold has to be greater than 50% of thesignal strength measured by all other wireless power transmittermanagers 1102 and has to remain greater than 50% for a minimum amount oftime. Note that in situations where charging of a customer's device isdesired despite not meeting the conditions above, such as in emergencysituations or in cases where the user belongs to a higher subscriptionclass and need to be given priority, the power transmission manager mayoverride the above conditions.

Wireless power transmitter manager 1102 may use, but is not limited to,Bluetooth low energy (BLE) to establish a communication link 1108 withwireless power receiver 1104 and a control link 1110 with customerdevice's graphical user interface (GUI). Wireless power transmittermanager 1102 may use control link 1110 to receive commands from andreceive pairing information from customer device's graphical userinterface (GUI).

Wireless power transmitter manager 1102 may include antenna managersoftware 1114 to track customer device 1106. Antenna manager software1114 may use real time telemetry to read the state of the power receivedin customer device 1106.

Wireless power transmitter manager 1102 may create a wireless energyarea model which includes information about all the movements in thesystem. This information may be stored in device database 1116.

In other situations, there can be multiple wireless power transmittermanagers 2902 and/or multiple wireless power receivers 1104 for poweringmultiple and various customer devices 1106.

FIG. 12 illustrates a system architecture for smart registration 1200 ofwireless power receivers within a wireless power network, according toanother embodiment.

In a wireless power network, one or more wireless power transmittermanagers and/or one or more wireless power receivers may be used forpowering various customer devices.

Each wireless power device in the wireless power network may include auniversally unique identifier (UUID). Examples of wireless power devicesmay include wireless power transmitter manager, wireless power receiver,end user hand-held or mobile devices, and servers, among others.

A wireless power transmitter manager 1202 may be any electronic devicecomprising a processor configured to execute software modulesinstructing the wireless power transmitter manager 1202 to executevarious processes and tasks described herein. In operation, the hardwareand software components of the wireless power transmitter manager 1202may control the wireless power transmission behaviors of one or moretransmitters. In some embodiments, a wireless power transmitter manager1202 or the various hardware and/or software components of the wirelesspower transmitter manager 1202 may be integrated into one or moretransmitters. In some embodiments, a transmitter manager device 1202 maybe a distinct device, such as a computer (e.g., desktop, laptop,server), comprising hardware and software components capable ofperforming the various tasks and processes described herein throughwired and/or wireless communications protocols.

A wireless power device bought by a customer may be registered with anenergy domain service 1214 through some automated or manual process,such as using a publicly accessible web page or smart device applicationthat communicates to an authentication and/or registration server 1209of the energy domain service 1214. The device may be registered with thewireless power network, and authenticated via a registry database 1211,which may be a database hosted on one or more servers 1209 the energydomain service 1214, and configured to store data records regardingregistered devices and/or users.

Energy domain service 1214 may be a network-based computing servicecomprising one or more servers 1209 comprising processors that executesoftware modules configured to control the flow of wireless energytransmissions by managing the transmitters via the power transmittermanager 1202. The servers 1209 may host a registry database 1211configured to store information about each wireless power deviceregistered with the energy domain service 1214 by a customer. Theregistry 1211 may be implemented through known-in-the-art databasemanagement systems (DBMS) such as, for example, MySQL, PostgreSQL,SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle, SAP, dBASE,FoxPro, IBM DB2, LibreOffice Base, FileMaker Pro and/or any other typeof database that may organize collections of data. The registry 1211 maystore data about customers, such as a customer's name, customer's creditcard, Pay Pal account, or any other method of payment, address; theregistry 1211 may additionally or alternatively store data about awireless power device, such as IP address, MAC address, and UUID, amongothers. The registry 1211 may also store data records for powertransmitter manager devices 1202 that are controlled by the energydomain service 1214. For instance, the registry 1211 may indicatewhether wireless power transmitter manager 1202 is for business,commercial, municipal, government, military, or home use. The registry1211 records for a power transmitter managers 1202 may also includevarious access policies for each wireless power transmitter manager1202.

In a different aspect of this embodiment, a wireless power receiver 1204may include a nonvolatile memory for storing a universally uniqueidentifier (UUID) identifying a wireless power transmitter manager 1202that may communicate with the receiver 1204. Examples of nonvolatilememory may include read-only memory, flash memory, ferroelectric RAM(F-RAM) hard disks, floppy disks, and optical discs, among others.Wireless power receiver 1204 may be paired with customer device 1206 ormay be built into customer device 1206. Examples of customer devices1206 may include laptop computer, mobile device, smartphone, tablet,music player, and toys, among other. Customer device 1206 may include agraphical user interface 1208 (GUI) as part of wireless power systemsoftware downloaded and installed from public application store.

A wireless power transmitter manager device 1202 may communicate adevice database 1210, which may be hosted on any computing devicecomprising non-transitory machine-readable storage media that isaccessible to the transmitter manager device 1202, via one or morenetworks 1212 or as an integrated component of the transmitter managerdevice 1202. A device database 1210 may store information aboutreceivers 1204 and/or customer devices 1206 coupled to receivers 1204,such as universally unique identifier (UUID), serial number, signalstrength, identification of paired partner device, customer device'spower schedules and manual overrides; customer device's past and presentoperational status, battery level and charge status, hardware valuemeasurements, faults, errors, and significant events; names, customer'sauthentication or authorization names, and configuration details runningthe system, among others. In some implementations, the wireless powertransmitter manager 1202 may be configured to refer to this devicedatabase 1210 to determine whether the device is permitted to receivewireless power from the transmitters of the system 1200 that arecontrolled by a respective transmitter manager 1202.

A wireless power transmitter manager 1202 may detect a signal strengthof a control signals received from a receiver 1204 or the customerdevice 1206 coupled to or comprising the receiver 1204. In some cases,the transmitter manager 1202 may detect the signal strength of thecontrol signals received from the receiver 1204 based on anadvertisement message emitted from the power receiver 1204 or customerdevice 1206. The wireless power transmitter manager 1202 may also detectif wireless power receiver 1204 is nearer to wireless power transmittermanager 1202 than to any other wireless power transmitter manager 1202in the wireless power system 1200 through an analysis of each databaserecords of receivers 1204 and 1206 in the wireless power system 1200 anda comparison of signal strength received at each wireless powertransmitter manager 1202. Each record of a wireless power transmittermanager 1202 in the device database 1210 may include a list of eachwireless power receiver 1204 and its signal strength relative to anddetected by wireless power transmitter manager 1202. Then wireless powerreceiver 1204 may be assigned to wireless power transmitter manager1202, which may have exclusive control and authority to change therecord of the wireless power receiver 1204 in distributed system devicedatabase 1210 until wireless power receiver 1204 moves to a new locationcloser to another wireless power transmitter manager 1202.

As previously mentioned, a wireless power transmitter manager 1202 mayverify with energy domain service 1214 whether one or more transmittersare authorized to send power waves to a wireless power receiver 1204.When the wireless power transmitter manager 1202 establishes acommunications connection with a wireless power receiver 1204, thetransmitter manager 1202 may request a universally unique identifier(UUID) identifying the power receiver 1204, and, in some cases, thetransmitter manager 1202 may send the UUID of the transmitter manager1202 to the power receiver 1204. The wireless power transmitter manager1202 may establish communication connection with the energy domainservice 1214 and then send the UUID of the transmitter manager 1202 andthe UUID of the wireless power receiver 1204 to the energy domainservice 1214, through one or more networks 1212, which may comprise anynumber wired and wireless communications connections between computersand/or networking devices. Non-limiting examples of networks 1212 mayinclude intranets, local area networks (LAN), virtual private networks(VPN), wide area networks (WAN), and the Internet, among others. Onceenergy domain service 1214 receives the UUID of the wireless powertransmitter 1202 and the UUID of the wireless power receiver 1204, oneor more servers 1209 of the domain service 1214 may inspect the registry1211 for a record of the wireless power transmitter manager 1202 usingthe corresponding UUID. The registry 1211 may store a record of thetransmitter manager 1202, which may include an access policy for thewireless power transmitter manager 1202. The server 1209 of the energydomain service 1214 may determine whether the wireless power transmittermanager 1202 should instruct transmitters to transmit power to thereceiver 1204, based on a set of rules indicated by the access policy inthe registry 1211. For example, the record of the wireless powertransmitter manager 1202 may store an access policy having an accesscontrol list of authorized receivers 1204 based on one or moreidentifiers (e.g., IP address, user identifier, MAC address, UUID), orthe access policy references the server 1209 to a device database 1210containing records of authorized receivers 1204 according to respectiveidentifiers (e.g., IP address, user identifier, MAC address, UUID). Insome implementations, the access policy of a transmitter manager 1202states that a wireless power receiver 1204 with UUID needs to pay toreceive power from transmitters controlled by the transmitter manager1202. One or more servers 1209 of the energy domain service 1214 maycomprise payment acceptance and/or verification software to verifywhether payment was received from, for example, a credit card, Pay Pal,or other payment method. If a payment method is associated with wirelesspower receiver 1204, a server 1209 of the energy domain service 1214 maysend a message to wireless power transmitter manager 1202 authorizingthe power transfer to wireless power receiver 1204. In response,transmitter manager 1202 may instruct one or more transmitters totransmit power waves to the receiver 1204. In some implementations, thewireless power transmitter manager 1202 may report energy consumptionstatistics to energy domain service 1214 for subsequent billing ofwireless power receiver's owner. Energy consumption statistics may bestored in device database 1210 and also may be sent to energy domainservice 1214 for storage in a device database 1210 and/or a registrydatabase 1211.

If no payment method is associated with wireless power receiver 1204,energy domain service 1214 may send a message to wireless powertransmitter manager 1202 denying the power transfer to wireless powerreceiver 1204.

In the case wireless power transmitter manager 1202 access policy statesthat no charge will be applied to certain wireless power receivers 1204,then energy domain service 1214 may confirm if wireless power receiver1204 is allowed to receive power from wireless power transmitter manager1202. If wireless power receiver 1204 is allowed to receive power fromwireless power transmitter manager 1202, then, energy domain service1214 may send a message to wireless power transmitter manager 1202authorizing the power transfer to wireless power receiver 1204.Otherwise energy domain service 1214 may send a message to wirelesspower transmitter manager 1202 denying the power transfer to wirelesspower receiver 1204.

In some implementations, a customer may access an webpage portal using aweb browser of a customer device 1206, such as a computer or othercomputing device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, server), or the customer maydownload and install onto the customer device 1206 a softwareapplication associated with the energy domain service 1214 to selectthrough a graphical user interface (GUI) 1208 which wireless powerreceivers 1204 may receive power waves from transmitters governed by theenergy service 1214 and/or governed by particular wireless powertransmitter managers 1202. In some implementations, the GUI 1208 maydisplay each wireless power receiver 1204 near one or more wirelesspower transmitter managers 1202, then, customer may select whichwireless power receivers 1204 are allowed to receive power waves from aparticular wireless power transmitter manager 1202. This information maybe stored in a device database 1210 and also may be sent to energydomain service 1214.

In some cases, a proprietor or clerk of a commercial or retail businessestablishment that owns a wireless power system 1200 may be able toselect through the GUI 1208 a wireless power receiver 1204 to receivepower from one or more wireless power transmitter managers 1202. Thecustomer may be provided with a pre-authorized wireless power receiver1204 at business establishment by proprietor or clerk. The wirelesspower receiver 1204 may be attached to customer's device 1206. Theproprietor or clerks may specify to GUI 1208 the customer's method ofpayment (credit card, Pay Pal, cash, among others.). The wireless powertransmitter manager 1202 of the business establishment may start sendingpower to the customer device 1206 that is attached to pre-authorizedwireless power receiver 1204. Customer may be billed on behalf ofbusiness establishment for power provided. Also in the GUI 1208,proprietor or clerk may be able to visualize power received by wirelesspower receiver 1204 and the amount to bill for power received. Thisinformation may be stored in distributed system device database 1210 andalso may be sent to energy domain service 1214.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for smart registration 1300 ofwireless power receivers within a wireless power network, according to afurther embodiment.

In a wireless power network, one or more wireless power transmittermanagers and/or one or more wireless power receivers may be used forpowering various customer devices. Each wireless power device in thewireless power network may include a universally unique identifier(UUID). Examples of wireless power devices may include wireless powertransmitter manager, wireless power receiver, end user hand-held ormobile devices and servers, among others. The wireless power managersmay be software modules executed by electronic devices in the system.The software modules of the wireless power managers may control theoperation of transmitters and may manage the interactions betweenreceivers and the transmitters. For example, the wireless power managersmay select which transmitters should transmit power waves to whichreceivers, if any, so that each transmitter is being utilizedefficiently and so that each receiver is being serviced adequately. Asanother example, the transmitter managers may manage authorization andverification of receivers, and may capture payment from the receiversbefore instructing the transmitters to transmit power waves. In somecases, the wireless power transmitter managers may be integrated intotransmitters; and in some cases, the wireless power transmitter managersmay be installed and executed by a distinct electronic device, such as aserver computer. In some cases, transmitters may be controlled bymultiple transmitter managers that interact with one another; and insome cases, transmitters may be controlled by a single transmittermanager configured to control multiple transmitters. Data andinstructions may be transmitted between transmitters and transmittermanagers via one or more networks, using any number ofnetworked-communications protocols.

The method may start at step 1302 when a wireless power transmittermanager detects a customer device. Customer device may be paired withwireless power receiver or wireless power receiver may be built in acustomer device. Example of customer devices may include smartphones,mobile device, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time.Customer device may include a graphical user interface (GUI) as part ofwireless power system software downloaded and installed from publicapplication store.

Wireless power transmitter manager may detect customer device's signalstrength from advertisement emitted from the receiver or from a devicecoupled to the receiver. Wireless power transmitter manager may alsodetect if wireless power receiver is nearer to wireless powertransmitter manager than to any other wireless power transmitter managerin the wireless power network through an analysis of each devicedatabase records in the wireless power system. Each record may include alist of each wireless power receiver and its signal strength relative toand detected by wireless power transmitter manager. Then wireless powerreceiver may be assigned to wireless power transmitter manager, whichmay have exclusive control and authority to change the wireless powerreceiver's record in distributed system device database until wirelesspower receiver moves to a new location closer to another wireless powertransmitter manager.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, Device database may storeinformation about all network devices such as universally uniqueidentifier (UUID), serial number, signal strength, identification ofpaired partner device, customer device's power schedules and manualoverrides; customer device's past and present operational status,battery level and charge status, hardware value measurements, faults,errors, and significant events; names, customer's authentication orauthorization names, and configuration details running the system, amongothers.

Wireless power transmitter manager may establish a communicationconnection with wireless power receiver indicating is within range toreceive charge. Wireless power transmitter manager may then send powerto receivers within a range (e.g., up to 30 feet from the powertransmitters).

If wireless power receiver tries to obtain charge from wireless powertransmitter manager, wireless power transmitter manager may verify withenergy domain service if it is authorized to send power to wirelesspower receiver. Therefore wireless power transmitter may establish acommunication connection with wireless power receiver to requestuniversally unique identifier (UUID). Wireless power receiver may sendUUID to wireless power transmitter manager. Wireless power transmittermanager may read wireless power receiver UUID, at step 1904.

Energy domain service may be one or more cloud-based servers and eachcloud-based servers may include a database that may store a registry foreach wireless power device purchased by a customer. Cloud-based serversmay be implemented through known in the art database management systems(DBMS) such as, for example, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQLServer, Microsoft Access, Oracle, SAP, dBASE, FoxPro, IBM DB2,LibreOffice Base, FileMaker Pro and/or any other type of database thatmay organize collections of data. The registry may include customer'sname, customer's credit card, address, and wireless power device UUID,among others. The registry may indicate whether wireless powertransmitter manager is for business, commercial, municipal, government,military, or home use. The registry may also include different accesspolicies for each wireless power transmitter manager, depending on ituse, for example if wireless power transmitter manager will be forbusinesses use, the customer may need to define whether the powertransfer will be charged or not.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, each wireless power devicebought by a customer may be registered at the time of purchase, orregistered later by the customer using public accessible web page orsmart device application that communicates to energy domain service.

Wireless power transmitter manager may send its UUID and also wirelesspower receiver UUID to an energy domain service through the internetcloud, at step 1306. Internet cloud may be any suitable connectionsbetween computers such as, for example, intranets, local area networks(LAN), virtual private networks (VPN), wide area networks (WAN) and theinternet among others.

Energy domain service may inspect the registry for wireless powertransmitter manager using UUID, at step 1308. Registry may includeaccess policy for wireless power transmitter manager.

Energy domain service may determine through the access policy whetherwireless power transmitter manager needs to collect or verify paymentfrom a receiver before transmitting power waves, at step 1310, where thetransmitter manager or energy domain service determines whether thereceiver is required to pay according to the access policy of theparticular transmitter manager.

If wireless power transmitter manager access policy states that wirelesspower receiver with UUID needs to pay to receive power, energy domainservice may verify whether a credit card, Pay Pal, or other paymentmethod, may be denoted within wireless power receiver registry, at step1312.

If a payment method is associated with wireless power receiver registry,energy domain service may send a message to wireless power transmittermanager authorizing the power transfer to wireless power receiver, atstep 1314.

Wireless power transmitter manager may report energy consumptionstatistics to energy domain service for subsequent billing of wirelesspower receiver's owner, at step 1316. Energy consumption statistics maybe stored in device database and also may be sent to energy domainservice and saved in wireless power receiver's registry.

In the case no payment method is associated with wireless powerreceiver, energy domain service may send a message to wireless powertransmitter manager denying the power transfer to wireless powerreceiver, at step 1318.

Else, if wireless power transmitter manager access policy states that nocharge will be applied to a certain wireless power receiver which may betrying to obtain power from wireless power transmitter manager, energydomain service may confirm whether wireless power receiver is allowed toreceive power from wireless power transmitter manager, at step 1320.

If wireless power receiver is allowed to receive power from wirelesspower transmitter manager. Energy domain service may send a message towireless power transmitter manager authorizing the power transfer towireless power receiver, at step 1314.

Wireless power transmitter manager may report energy consumptionstatistics to energy domain service, at step 1316. Energy consumptionstatistics may be stored in device database and also may be sent toenergy domain service and saved in wireless power receiver's registry.

Otherwise if wireless power receiver is not allowed to receive powerfrom the wireless power transmitter, energy domain service may send amessage to wireless power transmitter manager denying the power transferto wireless power receiver, at step 1322.

According to some aspect of this embodiment, a customer may be able toselect through a GUI device which wireless power receivers may receivecharge from wireless power transmitter manager. In the GUI device,customer may be able to visualize each wireless power receiver near towireless power transmitter manager, then customer may select whichwireless power receivers are allowed to receive charge from wirelesspower transmitter manager. This information may be stored in devicedatabase and also may be sent to energy domain service.

Example #1 is a wireless power network with components similar to thosedescribed in FIG. 12. A customer may have a wireless power transmittermanager in his/her house. The customer invites three friends to watch afootball game. Two of the three friends have a wireless power receivercover paired with their cellphones. When both wireless power receiversare within the range of the wireless power transmitter manager, they mayreceive a message from wireless power transmitter manager indicatingthey are within range to receive power. One of the wireless powerreceivers may try to obtain power from wireless power transmittermanager, but first the wireless power transmitter manager may verifywhether wireless power receiver is authorized to receive power.Therefore wireless power transmitter manager may send its own UUID andwireless power receiver UUID to an energy domain service. Energy domainservice may verify access policy for wireless power transmitter managerto determine if a billing charge has to be applied for using wirelesspower transmitter manager. The access policy for wireless powertransmitter manager may indicate that no charge will be applied forusing wireless power transmitter manager and that any wireless powerreceiver is able to receive charge from it. Energy domain service mayverify wireless power receiver registry and then energy domain servicemay authorize wireless power transmitter manager to send power towireless power receiver.

Example #2 is a wireless power network with components similar to thosedescribed in FIG. 12. A restaurant may have a wireless power transmittermanager. A customer within the restaurant has a cellphone with awireless power receiver cover. The customer may want to charge his/hercellphone while having dinner. The customer tries to charge his/hercellphone using wireless power transmitter manager, the wireless powertransmitter manager may need to verify if wireless power receiver isauthorized to receive power. Therefore wireless power transmittermanager may send its own UUID and wireless power receiver UUID to anenergy domain service. Energy domain service may verify access policyfor wireless power transmitter manager to determine if a billing chargehas to be applied for using wireless power transmitter manager. Theaccess policy for wireless power transmitter manager may indicate that acharge will be applied for using wireless power transmitter manager.Then, energy domain service may verify wireless power register todetermine whether a method of payment such as credit card or othermethod is associated with wireless power receiver. If a payment methodis on the registry file, energy domain service may authorize wirelesspower transmitter manager to send power to wireless power receiver.Wireless power transmitter manager may track the amount of power sent towireless power receiver. This information may be stored in devicedatabase and also may be sent to energy domain service to generate abill, on behalf of the restaurant.

III. Managing Power Transfer from Multiple Transmitters

A. System and Method for Controlling Communication Between WirelessPower Transmitter Managers Based Upon Power Transfer Proximity

FIG. 14 illustrates a transmitter transition 1400; as used herein“transmitter transition” refers to transitioning wireless powertransmission responsibilities from a first set of one or moretransmitters to another set of one or more transmitters, or, in somecases, one or more wireless power receivers 1404. When transmittertransition commences, wireless power transmission to a given wirelesspower receiver 1404 is shifted from a first transmitter to a new, secondtransmitter. The first transmitter then ceases wireless powertransmission to the given wireless power receiver.

In a wireless power transmission system, multiple wireless powertransmitter managers and/or multiple wireless power receivers may beused for powering various customer devices 1402. A wireless powerreceiver 1404 may be paired with customer device 1402 or may be builtinto customer device 1402. Example of customer devices 1402 may includesmartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time.Customer device 1402 may include a graphical user interface (GUI).

Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless powertransmission system may receive customer device's signal strength fromads emitted by wireless power receiver 1404 and displayed in thegraphical user interface (GUI).

In an embodiment, the customer's device's signal strength is representedas quality, in percentage terms. In another embodiment, the customer'sdevice signal strength is measured using received signal strengthindicator (RSSI) values. RSSI is received wireless signal strength indBm, and indicates the power level being received by the antenna of thecustomer device. The higher the RSSI number, the stronger the signal. Inthe present disclosure, “power transfer proximity” (also called “powertransfer proximity indicator”) is sometimes used to describe proximityof transmitters (TX) for charging/power transfer to customer devices,wherein high RSSI values typically indicate in-close power transferproximity.

Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless powertransmission system may include a device database 1410. Device database1410 may store customer device's power schedules, customer device'sstatus, names, customer's sign names, and details running the system,among others, for each customer device 1402 in the wireless powertransmission system near to a wireless power transmitter manager. Devicedatabase 1410 may also stores information about all system devices suchas wireless power transmitter managers, wireless power receivers, enduser hand-held devices, and servers, among others.

A Wi-Fi connection 1412 may be established between a wireless powertransmitter manager one 1406 and a wireless power transmitter managertwo 1408 to share between system devices: device database's powerrecords, quality control information, statistics, and problem reports,among others

Each wireless power transmitter manager may create a wireless energyarea model which includes information about all the movements in thesystem. Also this information may be stored at device database 1410.Wireless energy area model may be used in transmitter power transfertransitions, i.e., in transitioning communications and power transferfrom wireless power transmitter manager one 1406 to wireless powertransmitter manager two 1408. For example if a customer device 1402moves away from wireless power transmitter manager one 1406 and nearerto wireless power transmitter manager two 1408, this movement may beregistered in the wireless energy area model.

In another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmittermanagers may transfer power in a range between 15 feet to 30 feet, butonly wireless power transmitter manager with control over wireless powerreceiver's power record, may be allowed to send power to a specificwireless power receiver. Furthermore wireless power transmitter managersmay share wireless power receiver's power record, but only the wirelesspower transmitter manager, with control over wireless power receiver'spower record, can change the information stored for that power record inthe device database 1410.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmittermanagers may need to fulfill two conditions to control power transferover a customer device; customer device's signal strength threshold hasto be greater than a predetermined percentage of the signal strengthmeasured by all the other wireless power transmitter manager; and itmust exceed this threshold for a minimum amount of time. For example, inthe case of a predetermined percentage of 50%, the signal strengththreshold has to be greater than 55% of the signal strength measured byall the other wireless power transmitter managers, for a minimum amountof time. If multiple wireless power transmitter managers are withinrange to communicate with and transfer power to a given wireless powerreceiver, then only the closest wireless power transmitter manager orthe last wireless power transmitter manager closest to wireless powerreceiver, has control of the wireless power receiver's power record indevice database 1410, however each wireless power transmitter managermay individually and simultaneously transfer power to the power record.In this case, communication with the wireless power receiver istime-multiplexed (shared) between the multiple wireless powertransmitter managers so that each can track the 3-D location of thewireless power receiver, in case it is in movement.

In another aspect of this embodiment, wireless power transmitter managerone 1406 and wireless power transmitter manager two 1408 may sharecustomer device's information through a cloud 1414. Both wireless powertransmitter managers may be connected to cloud 1414 through networkconnections (not shown in FIG. 14). Network connections may refer to anysuitable connections between computers such as, for example, intranets,local area networks (LAN), virtual private networks (VPN), wireless areanetworks (WAN) and the internet among others. Cloud 1414 may also beused to share between system devices: quality control information,statistics, and problem reports, among others.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, a server 1416 may beconnected to cloud 1414 as a backup of device database 1410 shared byevery wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless powertransmission system.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart 1500 of a transmitter power transfer transition,between one wireless power transmitter manager to another, in a wirelesspower transmission system, according to an embodiment.

In a wireless power transmission system with two wireless powertransmitter managers the process may start when a wireless powerreceiver moves away from a wireless power transmitter and nearer toanother transmitter, at step 1502. A customer device may be paired withthe wireless power receiver. Example of customer devices may includesmartphones, tablets, music players, and toys, among others. Customerdevice may include a graphical user interface (GUI).

Wireless power transmitter managers may receive customer device's signalstrength from advertisement signals emitted by wireless power receiver.Subsequently, both wireless power transmitter managers may update adevice database with the customer device's signal strength measured byeach transmitter manager, at step 1504.

Each wireless power transmitter manager in the wireless powertransmission system may include a device database. Device database maystore customer device's power schedules, customer device's status,names, customer's sign names, and details running the system, amongothers, for each customer device in the power transmission system nearto a given wireless power transmitter manager. Device database also maystore information about all system devices such as wireless powertransmitter managers, wireless power receivers, end user hand-helddevices, and servers, among others.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, a wireless powertransmitter manager, may instruct transmitters to send power waves to aspecific wireless power receiver, based upon a record in a devicedatabase or registry database accessible to the wireless powertransmitter manager. In some cases, wireless power transmitter managersin the system may share wireless power receiver's power records, whichmay allow a system to omit an energy service, or one or more databases,or may allow the transmitter managers to share information without needto reference central databases unnecessarily, thereby reducing theburden on the energy domain service.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmittermanagers may need to fulfill two conditions to control power transferover a customer device; customer device's signal strength threshold hasto be greater than a predetermined percentage of the signal strengthmeasured by all the other wireless power transmitter managers for aminimum amount of time. For example, in the case of a predeterminedpercentage of 50%, the signal strength threshold has to be greater than55%. If multiple wireless power transmitter managers are within range tocommunicate with and transfer power to a given wireless power receiver,then only the closest wireless power transmitter manager or the lastwireless power transmitter manager closest to wireless power receiver,has control of the wireless power receiver's power record in the devicedatabase, however each wireless power transmitter manager mayindividually and simultaneously transfer rights to read and manipulatethe power record. In this case, communication with the wireless powerreceiver is time-phased (shared) between the multiple wireless powertransmitter managers so that each can track the 3-D location of thewireless power receiver, in case it is in movement.

The wireless power transmitter manager that first receives the strongestsignal strength from customer device may verify if the signal strengthof customer device has been significantly greater than predeterminedpercentage (for example greater than 55%, for a predetermined percentageof 50%) for a minimum amount of time, at step 1508.

The wireless power transmitter manager that first receives the strongestsignal strength from customer device for a minimum amount of time maytake control of wireless power receiver's power records and powertransfer, at step 1510.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary embodiment 1600 of a transmitter power transfertransition, between one wireless power transmitter manager to another,in a wireless power transmission system, according to an embodiment.

In a wireless power transmission system 1608, multiple wireless powertransmitter managers and/or multiple wireless power receivers may beused for powering various customer devices.

As an exemplary embodiment 1600, two wireless power transmitter managersmay be in different rooms. Wireless power transmitter manager one 1602may be located in room B and wireless power transmitter manager two 1604may be located in room A. Room A and B may be next to each other.

Wireless power receiver 1606 may be located in room B and may receivepower transfer from wireless power transmitter manager one 1602. Acustomer device may be paired with a wireless power receiver 1606.Example of customer devices may include smartphones, tablets, musicplayers, toys and others at the same time. Customer device may include agraphical user interface (GUI).

Each wireless power transmitter manager or transmitter near to customerdevice may receive customer device's signal strength from advertisementsignals emitted by wireless power receiver 1606.

Each wireless power transmitter manager in the power transmission system1608 may have a device database. Device database may store customerdevice's power schedules, customer device's status, names, customer signnames, and details running the system, among others, for each customerdevice in the power transmission system 1608 near to any wireless powertransmitter manager. Device database also may store information aboutall system devices such as wireless power transmitter managers, wirelesspower receivers, end user hand-held devices, and servers, among others.

Each wireless power transmitter manager may create a wireless energyarea model which includes information about all the movements in thesystem. This information may be used to effect a transmitter powertransfer transition involving control of power transfer from wirelesspower transmitter manager one 1602 to wireless power transmitter managertwo 1604. Wireless energy area model may be stored in the correspondingdevice database for each wireless power transmitter manager.

If wireless power receiver 1606 starts moving from room B to room A,wireless power transmitter manager one 1602 may take control over powertransfer for wireless power receiver 1606 and wireless powertransmitter's power records if customer device's signal strengththreshold is significantly greater than 50% of the signal strengthmeasured by all other wireless power transmitter managers. For exampleif wireless power transmitter manager one 1602 receives 90% signalstrength from customer device, wireless power transmitter manager one1602 may still have control over power transfer and wireless powerreceiver's power records.

If wireless power receiver 1606 continues moving toward room A, butwireless power transmitter manager one 1602 receives 60% signal strengthfrom customer device, wireless power transmitter manager one 1602 maystill have control over power transfer and wireless power receiver'spower records.

Wireless power receiver 1606 may move until mid-way between room A androom B. If wireless power transmitter manager one 1602 and wirelesspower transmitter manager two 1604 receives 50% signal strength fromcustomer device, wireless power transmitter manager one 1602 may stillhave control over power transfer and wireless power receiver's powerrecords.

Wireless power receiver 1606 continues moving towards room A. Ifwireless power transmitter manager one 1602 may receive 40% or 45%signal strength from customer device and wireless power transmittermanager two 1604 may receive 55% or 60% signal strength from customerdevice for a minimum amount of time, wireless power transmitter managerone 1602 may effect a transmitter power transfer transition,transferring control of power transfer, and may provide wireless powerreceiver's power record to wireless power transmitter manager two 1604.Wireless power transmitter manager two 1604 may take control over powertransfer and wireless receiver power's power record.

If wireless power receiver 1606 moves back from room A to room B,wireless power transmitter manager two 1604 may have control over powertransfer for wireless power receiver 1606 until signal strength drops to45% or less for a minimum amount of time. Wireless power transmittermanager one 1602 may take control over power transfer until customerdevice's signal strength reaches 55% or more for a minimum amount oftime.

Example #1 is an application of the system described in FIG. 14. Firstwireless power transmitter manager may be located in a living room and asecond wireless power transmitter manager may be located in a bedroom. Acustomer may be watching television in the living room, and at the sametime the customer may be charging his cellphone using the wireless powertransmitter manager located in the living room. The customer's cellphonemay be paired with a wireless power receiver. Wireless power transmittermanager located in the living room and wireless power transmittermanager located in the bedroom may receive customer cellphone's signalstrength from advertisements emitted by wireless power receiver. Thecustomer may go to sleep and may take his cellphone with him; thecustomer's cellphone may continue charging using the wireless powertransmitter manager located in the living room until his/her cellphone'ssignal strength drops to 45% or less. When the cellphone's signalstrength drops to 45% or less for wireless power transmitter managerlocated in the living room, wireless power transmitter manager locatedin the bedroom may take control over power transfer without powertransfer interruption, after it receives 55% or more signal strength fora minimum amount of time. Customer cellphone may continue charging usingwireless power transmitter manager located in the bedroom. A transmitterpower transfer transition between wireless power transmitter managerslocated in the living room and wireless power transmitter managerlocated in the bedroom may not be noticed by customer.

B. Cluster Management of Transmitters

The wireless power management system provides cluster management of aplurality or cluster of transmitters at a location, facilitating thetransfer of power from two or more transmitters in the cluster oftransmitters to a power receiver. In cluster management of a pluralityof transmitters, transmitter power transfer transition as used hereinrefers to transition of wireless transfer of power by one or moretransmitter of a plurality or cluster of transmitters to a givenwireless power receiver. The transmitter power transfer transitioncommences wireless power transmission to the given wireless powerreceiver from a new transmitter, ceases wireless power transmission tothe given wireless power receiver from a transmitter that was previouslywirelessly transmitting power, or both.

In an embodiment, the power receiver receives power only from a singletransmitter during a given time period. A transmitter power transfertransition effects a transition of wireless transfer of power to thewireless power receiver from one wireless power transmitter to anotherwireless power transmitter of the plurality or cluster of transmitters.Alternatively, if there is no available transmitter of the plurality orcluster of transmitters that can transmit power to the wireless powerreceiver following the transmitter power transfer transition, wirelesspower transmission by the plurality or cluster of transmitters to thewireless power receiver may cease altogether. The latter situation mayarise for example when a mobile device associated with the powerreceiver moves out of the transmitter cluster location.

In another embodiment, the power receiver may receive wireless transferpower from more than one transmitter during a given time period,sometimes called additive power in the present disclosure. In thisembodiment, a transmitter power transfer transition includes a number ofpossible scenarios: (a) adding a given transmitter within the pluralityor cluster of transmitters to a set of one or more transmitters that waspreviously wirelessly transmitting power to the power receiver whereinthe given transmitter was not previously wirelessly transmitting powerto the wireless power receiver; (b) ceasing wireless power transfer by atransmitter from a set of one or more transmitters that were previouslywirelessly transmitting power to the wireless power receiver; and (c)transitioning the wireless transfer of power to the wireless powerreceiver between one wireless power transmitter of a set of one or moretransmitter that was previously wirelessly transmitting power to thewireless power receiver, to another wireless power transmitter of theplurality or cluster of transmitters that was not previously wirelesslytransmitting power to the wireless power receiver. In wireless powertransfer transition scenario (b), if the wireless power receiver hadbeen receiving wireless power from a single transmitter, wireless powertransmission by the plurality or cluster of transmitters to the wirelesspower receiver may cease altogether.

In an embodiment, a plurality of transmitters are communicativelycoupled to at least one wireless power transmission manager, and thetransmitter power transfer transition is effected by the at least onewireless power transmission manager. For example, a transition ofwireless transmission responsibilities to the particular wireless powerreceiver may be effected by a wireless power transmitter manager of atransmitter of the plurality or cluster of transmitters that waspreviously wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless power receiver,and by a wireless power transmitter manager of another transmitter ofthe cluster of transmitters that was not previously wirelesslytransmitting power to the wireless power receiver.

In an embodiment, a transmitter power transfer transitions occur as amobile device associated with a power receiver moves to, from, or withinthe transmitter cluster location.

In an exemplary transmitter and receiver embodiment, a receiver isembedded in or otherwise joined to a device such as a mobile phone. Inthe embodiment described below, status communications betweentransmitter and receiver are hosted using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)wireless communications protocol. BLE is exemplary of a broad range ofwireless communications protocols that are capable of hosting statuscommunications between the transmitters and receivers (for example,Wi-Fi (IEEE 23A02.11), Near Field Communication (NFC), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), iBeacon), and the present transmitter clustermanagement method is not limited to a particular status communicationprotocol. The transmitter and receiver each has a Bluetooth low energy(BLE) processor. In use, the transmitter's BLE processor scans forBluetooth devices. When the receiver's Bluetooth processor powers up, itbegins advertising that it is a Bluetooth device. The advertisementincludes a unique identifier so that when the transmitter scans theadvertisement, it will distinguish that receiver's advertisement fromall other Bluetooth devices in range. In response to thisidentification, the transmitter immediately forms a communicationconnection with the receiver and will command the receiver.

After forming the BLE communication connection between transmitter andreceiver, the transmitter commences sending power transfer signals tothe receiver (for example, at a rate of 300-400 times a second), and thereceiver sends voltage sample measurements back to the transmitter. Thetransmitter analyzes these voltage measurements while varying theconfiguration of the transmitter antennas in phase and gain, untilachieving a maximum voltage level. At this level, there is maximumenergy in the pocket around the receiver. The wireless power transfermanagement system continually receives status and usage data from thetransmitter, and through the transmitter, obtains status and usageinformation from the receiver, as with all other transmitters andreceivers in the system. For example, as applied to energy harvest, thereceiver communicates the updated energy harvest value to thetransmitter, once a second. The transmitter accumulates data such asenergy harvest values from the receiver, and from any other receiverwith which it communicates. Periodically, the transmitter uploadsaccumulated energy information to the wireless power management system.

The present transmitter cluster management method addresses situationsin which a plurality or cluster of transmitters provides power to agiven receiver at a location using pocket-forming. Two or moretransmitters each may execute an additive power procedure forpocket-forming at the given receiver, as multiple pockets formed at thereceiver by the two or more transmitters generally would improve powertransfer efficiency or control for that receiver.

In transferring power to a given receiver with a plurality oftransmitters, each transmitter will execute the same generalcommunication procedure that applies to power transfers between a singletransmitter and receiver. After forming a BLE communication connectionbetween the respective transmitter and receiver, the transmitter beginssending power transfer signals to the receiver (e.g., 3400 times asecond), and the receiver sends voltage sample measurements back to thetransmitter. Each of the plurality of transmitters may analyze thesevoltage measurements while varying the configuration of the transmitterantennas in phase and gain, until achieving a maximum voltage level. Atthis level, there is maximum energy in the pocket formed by thatrespective transmitter around the receiver. Each transmitter that isexecuting power transfers to the receiver will periodically communicateaccumulated energy information for the receiver, and other status andusage information, to the wireless power management system.

FIG. 17 illustrates steps of cluster management of a plurality orcluster of transmitters TX at a location, to facilitate power transferto a receiver RX. In the initial step 1701, receiver RX establishescommunications with a transmitter TX within the cluster. Uponestablishing communications with receiver RX, the transmitter TXcommunicates the unique identifier of the newly identified powerreceiver RX to the wireless power management system. In one embodimenttransmitter TX is a master transmitter that has been designated tomanage communications for the cluster of transmitters. At step 1703, thewireless power management system determines which transmitters withinthe cluster at that location are available to transfer power to receiverRX.

In one embodiment, the available transmitters TX will include anytransmitter within the cluster capable of transferring power to receiverRX, including the transmitter of step 1701 and any other TX within rangeof the receiver as reported to the management system. One or morewireless power transmitters may automatically transmit power to anysingle wireless power receiver that is close enough for it to establisha communication connection using a suitable communication technology,including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or the like. The wireless powerreceiver may then power or charge an electrically connected clientdevice.

However this may not be the case at some locations with a cluster oftransmitters. The system can be configured by the wireless powermanagement system to transmit power only to specific wireless powerreceivers depending on specific system criteria or conditions, such asthe time or hour of the day for automatic time-based scheduled powertransmission, wireless power receiver physical location, owner of clientdevice, or other suitable conditions and/or criteria. For example, atransmitter TX of the cluster of transmitters may be dedicated topowering one or more device of a particular user, wherein other devicesand receivers are not authorized to receive power from that transmitter.In the following discussion, references to available transmitters or totransmitters available to a given receiver mean transmitters that arewithin power transfer range of that receiver, and that can be used totransfer power to that receiver based upon all other considerations,such as any limitation on transmitter use in specific system criteria orconditions recorded in the wireless power management system.

At step 1705, it is assumed that two or more transmitters TX areavailable to transfer power to receiver RX. At this step, the two ormore transmitters coordinate communications with receiver RX in anembodiment (such as Bluetooth® communications) in which only onetransmitter TX can communicate with receiver RX at a time. In oneembodiment as explained below, communications are coordinated by one ofthe two or more transmitters which is selected as a master transmitter.At step 1707, the available transmitters TX transfer power to receiverRX, subject to the coordination of communications at step 1705. At step1709, the management system detects a transmitter power transfertransition within the cluster of transmitters that are in communicationwith receiver RX. This transmitter power transfer transition may involveone of the available transmitters ceasing its communications withreceiver RX (e.g., due to receiver RX moving out of range of thattransmitter); a new transmitter TX establishing communications withreceiver RX; or a combination of these occurrences. Typically in thisevent, unless the transmitter power transfer transition entails the endof all connections of receiver RX with transmitters in the cluster, thepower transfer management system and the transmitter(s) available afterthe transition will repeat steps 1703 through 1709 of this clustermanagement method.

FIG. 18 shows the path 1802 of a user with mobile phone in hand, whoenters and travels through a location 1804 including a cluster oftransmitters TX1 1806, TX2 1808, and TX3 1810, As the device andreceiver 1802 travel the path 1802 through nodes A→B→C→D→E→F,transmitters TX1 1806, TX2 1808, and TX3 1810 undergo the followingtransmitter power transfer transitions: (A) TX1 1806 detects thereceiver and starts transmitting power; (B) The receiver moves out ofrange of TX1 1806 which ceases power transfer; TX2 1808 detects thereceiver and starts transferring power; (C) The receiver moves out ofrange of TX2 1808 which ceases power transfer; TX3 1810 detects thereceiver and starts transferring power; (D) The receiver remains withinrange of TX3 1810 which continues power transfer; TX1 1806 detects thereceiver and re-starts transferring power; (E) The receiver remainswithin range of TX1 1806 and TX3 1810, which continue power transfer;TX2 1808 detects the receiver and re-starts transferring power, so thatall three transmitters are transferring power; and (F) The receivermoves out of range of TX3 1810 which ceases power transfer; the receiverremains within range of TX1 1806 and TX2 1808, which continue powertransfer.

Wireless communications, such as BLE, between transmitters TX1 1806, TX21808, and TX3 1810 and the receiver 1802 may operate at a greaterdistance than the power transfer range of the transmitters. In thiscase, a transmitter power transfer transition in FIG. 18 may not becaused by a transmitter's detection of receiver 1802, but by receiver1802 entering, or exiting, the transmission range of the transmitter.

When multiple wireless power transmitters are executing power transfersto a single receiver using BLE communications between transmitters andreceiver, one or more wireless power transmitter managers embedded inthe wireless power transmitters coordinate communications between therespective transmitters and the receiver. Bluetooth protocols onlypermit one communication connection at a time between the wireless powerreceiver and the multiple wireless power transmitters. Wireless powermanager application software within the wireless power transmittermanagers may carry out a routine, as a set of instructions and/oralgorithm, for coordinating communication between communication managersof the multiple wireless power transmitters (wireless power transmittercluster). This routine coordinates contemporaneous communications of therespective wireless power transmitters with the power receiver. As usedin this description of cluster management of wireless powertransmitters, contemporaneous means that at least two wireless powertransmitters communicate with a power receiver during the same generalperiod of time, but it does not mean that more than one wireless powertransmitter communicate with the power receiver at exactly the sametime. In an embodiment, the routine carried out by the wireless powermanager application employs time division multiplexing (TDM) ofcontemporaneous communications between at least two wireless powertransmitters and the power receiver.

During the general period of time of contemporaneous communications ofthe wireless power transmitters with the power receiver, multiplewireless power transmitters within the cluster can simultaneously sendpower to the power receiver. In an embodiment, system management maylimit the total amount of power transmitted by the multiple wirelesspower transmitters to the power receiver.

In one embodiment involving a centralized control method, the wirelesspower management system selects one of the transmitters as a mastertransmitter. The master transmitter controls the order and timing ofcommunications with the receiver among the plurality of transmittersthat are executing power transfers to the receiver. Alternative methodsfor coordinating communications also are possible besides thiscentralized control method, such as methods involving decentralizedcontrol among the plurality of transmitters.

In a system 1902 illustrated in FIG. 19, each of a plurality or clusterof transmitters TX1 1904, TX2 1906, TX3 1908 is connected with anenterprise bus 1910 such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. When the system 1902 isinstalled, it is configured for network control, e.g., via a local areanetwork subnet. Transmitters TX1 1904 and TX3 1908 are connected to LAN1910 by Wi-Fi, and TX2 1906 is connected by Ethernet. An access point isincluded at 1912. Thus, the transmitters can exchange communicationsacross a TCP/IP local area subnet, ensuring guaranteed communicationusing TCP sockets. This arrangement also allows the transmitters tobroadcast information using an Internet protocol such as the UserDatagram Protocol (UDP), providing communications analogous to Bluetoothadvertising.

When transmitters TX1 1904, TX2 1906, TX3 1908 power up, each of thetransmitters begins regularly to broadcast across the network a messageincluding its IP address and other information identifying thetransmitter. Each transmitter in the network has access to broadcasts ofthe other transmitters, and each transmitter builds a list of alltransmitters of the network, including identification of one of thetransmitters as master transmitter. In a first embodiment of centralizedcontrol, the system identifies as master transmitter the transmitterwith the lowest IP number, here shown as TX3 with IP address192.168.000.3. Within the general approach of centralized control oftransmitter-receiver communications by a master transmitter, otheralgorithms besides lowest IP number can be used to determine the mastertransmitter.

The system repeats this procedure regularly, so that if mastertransmitter TX3 went off line, the remaining transmitters mayrecalculate and assign one of the remaining transmitters as master. Ifthe other transmitters did not see a UDP broadcast message from themaster transmitter within a set period of time (e.g., 15 seconds), theseremaining transmitters may recalculate the list of availabletransmitters and may assign one of the remaining transmitters as masterbased upon the applicable algorithm (in this embodiment, lowest IPnumber).

Receiver RX1 1916 periodically broadcasts Bluetooth advertisements asthe device with receiver approaches location 2024. In FIG. 20 thereceiver first approaches location 2024 at time T0, as shown at 2016.Transmitter TX3 1908 first detects a BLE advertisement from receiver RX11916 at time T1 (location 2016 in FIG. 20). At this time, transmitterTX3 acquires the receiver's unique ID (e.g., Bluetooth uniqueidentifier, MAC address), and TX3 transmits this information to themanagement system 1920 via modem 1912 (both communications are shownschematically in FIG. 19 at time T1). Management system 1920 canreference information on the identified receiver; the local powermanagement facility including all transmitters; information pertinent toauthorization of the receiver (such as the enterprise or accountassociated with the receiver); pricing information; and other applicableinformation such as information on the transmitter TX3 that initiatedthe communication. In this embodiment, the management system 1920determines that all transmitters in the cluster TX1, TX2, and TX3 areavailable for power transfers to receiver RX1 1916, and sends thismessage to the master transmitter (step 1703 in the method of FIG. 17).

FIGS. 19 and 20 schematically illustrate a method of transmitter clustermanagement at a location (e.g., room 2024). At time T3, managementsystem 1920 sends the master transmitter a message granting receiver RX1access to wireless power transmission by transmitters TX1 1904, TX21906, TX3 1908. After the initial authorization of transfer of power toreceiver RX1 at time T3, in FIG. 20 receiver RX1 is shown entering andmoving across room 2024 at various times T4, T5, and T6. At time T4,receiver RX1 is in range of transmitters TX2 and TX3. At time T5,receiver RX1 enters the range of transmitter TX1 and is in range of allthree transmitters TX1, TX2 and TX3. When transmitter TX1 first detectsreceiver RX1, it sends a message to management system 1920, which sendsthe master transmitter TX3 a return communication granting transmitterTX1 power transfer to receiver RX1.

During a period following time T5, all three transmitters TX1, TX2, andTX3 are available to transfer power to receiver RX1, subject tocoordination of communications of the three transmitters with receiverRX1 by the master transmitter TX3 (step 1705 in the method of FIG. 17).In one embodiment, master transmitter TX3 commands transmitters TX1 andTX2 to limit their communications with the receiver to one second ofevery period of three seconds (i.e., so that transmitters TX1, TX2, andTX3 each is allotted one second from the three second period). Thiscould be done for example by master transmitter TX3 sending one of theother transmitters an “on” signal at the beginning of the one secondperiod for which communications are to occur for that other transmitter,and transmitter TX3 sending an “off” signal at the end of that period.Alternatively, master transmitter TX3 could send an “on” signal at thebeginning of the “on” period for communications, coupled with theduration of that “on” period. During time periods in which a giventransmitter is not communicating with receiver RX1, the transmitter willcontrol the phase of its transmit antennas based upon the most recentcommunications obtained from the receiver. Given the high volume ofcommunications transmitted by receiver RX1 during each one second “on”period, such intermittent time periods for communications have beenobserved to be sufficient to permit each transmitter to adjust itsantenna phases to regulate power transfer (step 1707 in the method ofFIG. 17), when transmitting power to a receiver in motion.

At time T6, receiver RX1 has left the range of transmitter TX3, whileremaining within the range of transmitters TX1 and TX2. During theperiod in which a transmitter has been authorized to transmit power toan identified receiver, among other data the transmitter communicates tomanagement system 1920, are data on the signal strength of itscommunications with the receiver, so that by time T6, the managementsystem 1920 detects that transmitter TX3 is out of range for receiverRX1 (step 1709 in the method of FIG. 17). Management system 1920thereupon sends a deny access message for receiver RX1 to transmitterTX3, and selects one of the remaining transmitters (transmitter TX1,which has the lower IP number) as master transmitter. Thereafter,transmitter TX1 controls communications between receiver RX1 and thetransmitters TX1 and TX2 that are still transferring power to receiverRX1.

In addition to tracking which transmitters are within range of a givenreceiver, the management system 1920 can limit the power output to givenreceivers and devices, e.g., based upon safety concerns. Various mobilephones have maximum DC power levels at or just under 4.0 watts (e.g.,3.96, 3.97, 3.98 or 3.99 watts). In the event of a transmitter clustermanagement transition, i.e., a change to the set of transmitters incommunication with a given receiver, management system 1920 can send amessage to the master transmitter to ensure compliance with anyapplicable maximum power level. This message would instruct availabletransmitters to limit power transfer from individual transmitters amongthe cluster of transmitters, thereby to ensure safe power transfers fromeach transmitter.

The above discussion assumed that power transmission between receiverRX1 and transmitters TX1, TX2, and TX3 was governed by the powertransfer proximity of the receiver to the respective transmitters. Inoperation of the management system 1920, additional factors besidespower transfer proximity may determine the capability of a giventransmitter to transfer power to a receiver and associated user device;collectively these factors are sometimes called “power transferattributes” in the present disclosure. In addition to power transferproximity, power transfer attributes include power transfer capacity ofa transmitter; power transfer availability, which includes authorizationto transfer power to a receiver and scheduling; and transmission pathobstruction, i.e., line of sight paths versus path obstructed by anobstacle. For example as seen in FIG. 20, obstacle 2026 may obstructpower transfer from transmitter TX1 to receiver RX1. In another example,transmitter TX2 may have significantly lower power transfer capacitythan transmitter TX3. Metrics of these other power transfer attributes,in addition to power transfer proximity indicators, can be included inthe data processed by management system 1920 in managing transmitterpower transfer transitions.

The foregoing discussion describes controlling cluster management oftransmitters through the interaction of a cluster of transmitters with awireless power management system, preferably a cloud computingmanagement system with networked remote servers are networked forcentralized data storage and online access to data management services.In an alternative embodiment, the cluster of transmitters achievestransmitter cluster management under the control of the transmittersthemselves, without oversight by a wireless power management system.This is possible since the transmitters themselves can replicate most ofthe management information and functionality used by the wireless powermanagement system in transmitter cluster management.

The transmitter cluster management scheme discussed above involveshierarchical management of all transmitters at given locations,sometimes herein called a transmitter cluster, in controlling powertransfer by the transmitters to a receiver at that location. Othertransmitter cluster management schemes are possible, which may managetransmitter-receiver connections at any level of a hierarchicalstructure. For example, the management system may define a giventransmitter cluster as a subset of all transmitters at a location, andmanage receiver interactions only with these transmitters separate fromother transmitters at the location. Furthermore, the transmitter clustermanagement scheme may manage transmitter-receiver power transfers andcommunications across multiple, neighboring locations. For example, twoneighboring households each may have two transmitters, which may beorganized into one or two clusters managed by the cloud based powertransfer management system. The system could manage neighboringlocations as clusters, so all four transmitters would be part of onecluster; or, the system could manage each billing address as a separatecluster, so there would be two clusters each with two transmitters.

FIGS. 21-25 illustrate system and methods for wirelessly powering one ormore devices that are stationery or in movement within the service zoneof a cluster of transmitters. Transmitters TX within the clustercollectively can deliver power to receivers within the service zone, andthese transmitters are in communication with a master transmitter thatcoordinates power transmission by transmitters of the cluster.

In an embodiment, a plurality of transmitters of the cluster may form anenergy pocket at a device to receive power, wherein there are multiplepockets of energy at the device. The use of multiple pockets of energycan be useful, for example, with devices (such as LED lighting fixtures)that do not include batteries, and that require continuous anduninterrupted power to ensure device operation, or sensors for securityapplications.

In an embodiment, transmitters within the cluster communicate with eachother via a common computer network or subnet. Transmitters of thecluster inter-communicate power authorization data and receivercommunication assignments in order to maintain sufficient power forcontinuous and uninterrupted device operation when a device moves out ofrange or into range of any transmitter. Furthermore, coordinatedtransfer of power by multiple transmitters can prevent inefficienciessuch as destructive interference of pockets of energy formed at a deviceby multiple transmitters.

FIG. 21 is a system block diagram of a wireless power network forwirelessly powering devices associated with receivers RX11, RX12, andRX13 within the service zone of a cluster of transmitters TX11-TX17.System management service 2102 may include a local server, or (as shownhere) cloud based server that manages the wireless power transmissionsystem. System management service 2102 manages communications fromtransmitters TX to system management, for example during transmitterpower transfer transitions. Each of the wireless power transmittersTX11-TX17 may include an embedded wireless power transmitter manager(not shown). Each embedded wireless power transmitter manager mayinclude a wireless power manager application, communicatively coupled toan embedded database (cf. FIG. 14), to effect methods of FIGS. 22-25 forwirelessly powering devices within the service zone of the cluster oftransmitters TX11-TX17.

Transmitter TX11 is the master transmitter of the transmitter clusterTX11-TX17. In an embodiment, the master transmitter TX11 controlscommunication assignments between transmitters and receivers in theservice zone of the cluster. As used in the present disclosure, thetransmitter cluster consists of “worker” transmitters, i.e.,transmitters with assigned RX's that perform wireless power transfer tothese RX's. In an embodiment, the master transmitter TX11 also is aworker transmitter.

Each of TX11-TX17 includes a TX antenna array 2120, an array oftransmission antennas that transmits wireless energy to form energypockets at a power receiver RX. Generally, transmission of energy frommultiple TX antenna arrays to a receiver provides additional availablepower for the receiver; for example pockets of energy 2122, 2126, and2130 at receiver RX11.

A communication network of the wireless power system includes a Wi-Fi orEthernet communication network 2110 between the transmitters and thesystem management service 2102. Each of transmitters TX11-TX17broadcasts a heartbeat User Datagram Protocol (UDP) 2106 datagramthroughout the network. The heartbeat is a signal generated bytransmitter managers of transmitters TX11-TX17, which communicates toother system processors that the first transmitter manager is stillonline or performing its normal function. In an embodiment, theheartbeat of a transmitter manager for a given TX contains the networkIP address of that TX, and whether the TX is the master TX, among otherinformation.

System communications also includes, at 2114, receiver data and RSSIfrom each of transmitters TX12-TX17 to the master transmitter TX11. RXinformation can include the receiver's unique ID, such as Bluetooth LowEnergy address, MAC address, or serial number. RS SI or signal strengthis measured at each of the transmitters.

In an embodiment, communication assignments 2118 are sent by mastertransmitter TX11 to all other transmitters. These assignments specifywhich RX (or multiple RX's) each TX is assigned for communications. Inan embodiment, no two transmitters communicate with the same RX at thesame time. Table 1 is an exemplary communication assignment list for thepower transmission configuration shown in FIG. 21.

TABLE 1 Communication Assignment List Transmitter Receiver TX11 RX11TX12 RX11 TX13 RX11, RX12 TX14 RX12 TX15 RX12, RX13 TX16 RX13 TX17 RX13

During each heartbeat period, the master TX broadcasts a list ofreceivers authorized for power from each transmitter, including themaster TX. Each receiver is assigned to only one transmitter at a time.A specific transmitter TX may power one or more receiver. Communicationassignments may be changed by the master TX at each heartbeat period. Ateach heartbeat period the master TX builds the latest list of RXcommunication assignments to TX's, and any RX not authorized by SystemManagement 2202 to receive power is ignored. The new list is broadcastat each heartbeat period.

In an embodiment of master communication assignments to TX's of thecluster, at every heartbeat period an RX in communication range ofmultiple TX's is assigned to the next TX if the latest TX has not hadtime to communicate with the RX. Each TX in communication range has aturn to communicate with RX (2240, FIG. 22), and the communication cyclerepeats. The list of TX's powering a given RX may change as the RX movesin and out of range of TX's. This process continues until the RX is nolonger authorized, is out of range, or no longer needs power.

For maximum power to a device, multiple transmitters that power aspecific RX take turns at communication because only one TX maycommunicate with RX at same time. This is controlled by master TX, whichmoves the communication assignment of specific RX sequentially, one TXat a time, to each TX that powers RX, assignment being sent everyheartbeat period of time. Master may assign a specific RX to a specificTX for more than one heartbeat period of time if TX has not yetcommunicated with RX. This may occur in the case of TX that concurrentlypowers more receivers than its maximum number of simultaneouscommunication connections.

The following is a summary of cluster management of transmitter powertransfer transitions in the system of FIG. 11. One transmitter (TX11) ofthe cluster of transmitters has the designation of “master transmitter”,and controls communications between transmitters TX11-TX17 and receiversin the service zone of the cluster. Whenever a receiver RX moves withincommunication range of a transmitter, which detects that communicationhas become available with receiver, the transmitter communicates thisstate to system management 2102 in order to obtain authorization topower receiver. When system management communicates authorization to thetransmitter, the transmitter forwards this authorization to the masterTX, which may communicate to TX that it is assigned communication rightswith the RX for the purpose of wireless power transmission to receiver.Whenever a receiver moves out of communication range of a transmitter,and communication between RX and TX is no longer available, thetransmitter reports this state to system management and the master TX.Thereafter the master transmitter will no longer command that TX tocommunicate with and power the RX.

FIG. 22 is a system state diagram showing states of wireless powertransmitter software of the system of FIG. 21, for wirelessly poweringreceiver devices within the service zone of a cluster of wireless powertransmitters. Referring to the state diagrams RX Detection States 2220,and TX Power Transmission State Per RX 2230, a transmitter TX may notpower a receiver RX until RX is close enough for communication with theTX. When TX detects an RX 2222 within communications range that was notpreviously within range, then TX may communicate this to systemmanagement for power authorization 2224. TX may not power RX untilsystem management communicates authorization to TX. When TX that is notmaster receives this authorization, it communicates it to the master TX2226. Thus the master TX knows which authorized RX's should be assignedto TX's.

Referring to TX Power Transmission State per RX 2230, upon receiving acommunication assignments list from the master TX 2238, TX endscommunication with any RX not in the list of RX's for that TX (2238,2236). TX enables communication with RX's in its list (2242, 2244).

Each TX may communicate with more than one receiver simultaneously. Ifnumber of RX's assigned to TX exceeds this maximum, than TX may employTime-Division Multiplexing (TDM) communication. In this case, TX may notcommunicate right away with RX. RX is queued for communication 2240 andTX uses Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) to manage the RX with which TXcommunicates. Once TX has a communications connection available for RX,TX starts communication with RX 2244.

If TX Power Transmission State per RX 2230 is “RX queued forcommunication” 2240 or “TX communicates with and powers RX” 2244, butthere is no longer authorization from system management for TX to powerRX, the TX Power Transmission State per RX reverts to “No TX power to orcommunication with RX” state 2236. If RX is no longer authorized bysystem management to receive power from TX, TX communicates this changein authorization to the master TX, which will remove RX from list ofcommunication assignments that will be sent to TX at next heartbeatperiod.

Referring to the TX Power Transmission Flowchart 2500 of FIG. 25, whenTX receives communication assignments from the master transmitter 2516,and there is no longer a communication assignment to an RX for which itis still authorized to power 2520, then if TX is still in communicationwith Rx then TX ends communication with RX 2520. TX will not againcommunicate until RX is re-assigned to TX 2528, 2532 by the mastertransmitter.

When TX receives communication assignments from the master transmitters,and the communication assignments include the same receiver RX withwhich TX was previously in communication, then TX starts communicationwith RX (2242, 2244). TX will continue communication until RX isre-assigned to another TX by the master TX (2238, 2236), or until TX nolonger has authorization from system management to power receiver RX(2244, 2236).

Turning to the Master Establishment Flowchart of FIG. 23, and the MasterEstablishment States diagram 2200 of FIG. 22, there can only be a singlemaster transmitter of the cluster. Whenever the software of atransmitter starts or resets 2302 (state 2204, FIG. 22), it performs thedefault role of non-master mode 2300 (state 2206, FIG. 22). Innon-master mode 2300 (Master Establishment state 2206), a non-master TXbegins periodically broadcasting its heartbeat. Heartbeat broadcast maybe by UDP datagram 2106 (FIG. 21), or other communication method.

The non-master TX begins reading heartbeats 2306 from any other TX inthe cluster (state 2206, FIG. 22). If a heartbeat is received from themaster 2326, and non-master TX does not already have communicationconnection with master, then TX starts communication connection with themaster TX to periodically receive assignments to communicate with one ormore RX's that TX is authorized to power (state 2208, FIG. 22).

If non-master TX does not receive heartbeat from a master for apredetermined period of time (e.g., 10 seconds), and the networkaddress, or IP, of TX is numerically lower than any other TX of thecluster 2314, than TX may change to the master role 2350 becoming thecluster master (Master Establishment State transition from 2206 to 2202,FIG. 22). Non-master TX learns the network address of other TX's byreading their heartbeat broadcasts.

Master mode process 2350 prevents multiple masters within a cluster ofTX's. A master TX periodically broadcasts its master heartbeat to theother transmitters of the cluster (state 2202, FIG. 22). If a master TXreceives a heartbeat from another TX of the cluster that also is in themaster role and the other TX has a numerically lower network addressthan the first TX (yes at 2374), then the first TX will change to thenon-master role (Master Establishment State transition from 2202 to2206, FIG. 22). The other TX will continue as master, broadcasting amaster heartbeat to other TX's 2366.

A master TX will ignore a heartbeat from another master with anumerically greater network address (2358; 2202 in FIG. 22), because theTX master with greater address will eventually detect the TX master withlower address, and switch to non-master mode.

If a master TX detects no other master for a predetermined heartbeattime period (e.g., 10 heartbeat periods), then after the predeterminedheartbeat time period the master broadcasts 2370 the communicationassignments of each TX and RX in the cluster (state 2210, FIG. 22).

The RX Detection Flowchart 2400 of FIG. 24, and RX detection statesdiagram 2200 of FIG. 22, show states of a worker transmitter TX indetection of receiver RX. Whenever the software of a transmitter startsor resets 2304, the transmitter scans 2408 for receivers RX incommunication range (state 2222, FIG. 22). On detecting RX 2412 the TXdetermines 2416 whether a previous RX signal strength exceeds a requiredthreshold (“significant”) or is below the threshold (“insignificant”);and TX determines 2420 whether current RX signal strength reading storedby TX. In an embodiment, the current and previous signal strengths arecommunicated by power receiver 1404 to transmitter TX and stored in adevice database 1410 associated with transmitter manager 1408 oftransmitter TX (FIG. 14).

In the event current signal strength is above a particular thresholdwhereas previous signal strength was below a particular threshold, at2424 the transmitter manager of worker transmitter TX communicates thedetection of receiver RX to system management, and requests powerauthorization (state 2224, FIG. 22). On receiving power authorization ifthe worker transmitter is not master (yes at 2436), the worker TX sends2440 power authorization to the master TX (state 2226 in FIG. 22).Thereafter worker TX transmits power to RX as long as it continues todetect receiver RX (2412) and current signal strength readings remainsignificant (2416, 2428).

In the event current signal strength is below a particular threshold,whereas previous signal strength was above a particular threshold, at2424 the transmitter manager of worker transmitter TX, at 2432 TXcommunicates to system management 2202 that the RX signal strength hasdropped below threshold, and a worker transmitter transmits this statechange to the master TX 2410. Thereafter the master transmitter will nolonger command that TX to communicate with and power the RX.

In the above described RX detection state embodiment, control logic forRX communication and power authorization are based on signal strengthlevels (i.e., power transfer proximity thresholds). In furtherembodiments, RX power authorization may be based upon predeterminedstandards of other power transfer attributes besides power transferproximity. In an embodiment, power transfer attributes include powertransfer proximity; power transfer capacity of a transmitter; powertransfer availability (e.g., authorization to transfer power to areceiver, and power scheduling); transmission path obstruction(line-of-sight power transmission vs. obstructed power transmission);and combinations of two or more of these power transfer attributes. Inan embodiment, RX power authorization is based upon at least three powertransfer attributes.

Power transfer attributes (also herein called power transfer attributesdata) may be used in managing transmitter power transfer transitions andother power transfer events in a wireless power transmission system. Ina control architecture such as that of FIG. 14, at least one oftransmitter managers 1406, 1408 may receive data representing aplurality of power transfer attributes of one or more of the powertransmitters from one or more sources within the wireless powertransmission system. The sources of power transfer attributes data mayinclude one or more of the power receiver 1404; a customer device 1402(also called user device); a management control system 1416 of theplurality of power transmitters (e.g., a local server or cloud baseserver); as well as other transmitter managers. The sources of powertransfer attributes data also may include sensors, such as sensors 2160that may be mounted at the front of transmitter TX14 and that arecommunicatively coupled with a transmitter manager of TX14 (FIG. 21).

Power transfer attributes data may be stored in device databases 1410associated with transmitter managers 1406, 1408, and in managementcontrol system 1416. In an embodiment, one of the transmitter managersis a master transmitter, which processes power transfer attributes inmanaging the transition of transmission responsibilities betweentransmitters within a cluster of wireless power transmitters. In anembodiment, the database stores weighting factors for each of the powertransfer attributes data, which may be used in calculating and storingpower transfer ratings based upon the power transfer attributes data. Inan embodiment, the device databases include audit and logginginformation to track increases and decreases over time of the powertransfer attributes data, weighting factors, and power transfer ratings;and to track events of the wireless power transmitter cluster such astransmitter power transfer transitions.

In an example of acquisition of power transfer attributes, a transmittermanager may receive power transfer proximity data (e.g., RSSI) frompower receivers and from other transmitter managers. In another example,a transmitter manager may receive power transfer availability data(e.g., authorization to transfer power to a receiver, and powerscheduling data) from management control system 1416. In a furtherexample, a transmitter manager may receive transmission path obstructionattributes from one or more sensors, as sensor data indicating thelocation and dimensions of an obstacle obstructing power transmission bya given transmitter TX to a given receiver RX (e.g., obstacle 2026, FIG.20).

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a method for determining whether to transferpower to a receiver, and selecting a transmitter to transfer power to areceiver, in a system for wirelessly powering receiver devices withinthe service zone of a cluster of wireless power transmitters. BesidesBluetooth®, RX communications may use other communication medium orprotocol capable of communicating data between processors, such as RFID,infrared, near-field communication (NFC). The cluster is a set orplurality of TX(s) that collectively can deliver power to a RX withinthe service zone. Master TX refers to an TX that coordinatescommunication and power delivery by TX(s) within the cluster.

At step 2602, TX detects BLE advertisements of RX within the servicezone of the cluster. In an embodiment, RX sends periodic BLEadvertisements, and enters the service zone covered by a cluster of TX.At step 2604, any TX within communication range of the BLEadvertisements forward the advertisements to the master TX.

At step 2606, the master TX determines whether to transfer power to RXbased upon power transmitter attributes relating to RX. In anembodiment, power transfer attributes include a plurality of thefollowing attributes:

(a) Power transfer proximity, or in-close charging/power proximity of TXwithin the service zone. In an embodiment, high power transfer proximityis reflected in strong RSSI;

(b) Authorization (whether RX is allowed to be charged/receive powerfrom a given TX);

(c) Power scheduling, i.e., scheduling of RX for power (e.g., start timeand stop time of power transfer or duration of power transfer). In anembodiment, (b) authorization and (c) power scheduling are powertransfer availability attributes, which may be received by the mastertransmitter from system management of the wireless transmission system;

(d) Power availability, i.e., whether TX has available power capacity(e.g., based upon antenna configuration) and/or whether TX hassufficient resources to transmit power waves to RX. Power availabilitycan be a consideration for example when a given TX already has powerallocated to charge or one or more other RX;

(e) RX power requirements;

(f) Power transmission obstruction, i.e., line of sight transmissionpath vs. obstructed path.

At step 2608, the master TX selects an TX within the cluster to transferpower to RX based upon the power transfer attributes. In an embodiment,the master TX determines a power transfer rating from one or more TXcapable of transmitting power to RX, and selects the TX with highestpower transfer rating to transfer power to RX. In another embodiment,the master TX selects the TX with highest transfer rating as primary TXto transfer power to RX, but also another TX with a lower power transferrating to transfer power to RX (additive power, e.g., for RX with highpower requirements). In an embodiment, the master TX selects an TXwithin the cluster to transfer power to RX based upon at least threepower transfer attributes.

In an embodiment, at step 2608 the master TX uses a heuristic process todetermine power transfer rating for TX selection, in order to select anTX that can provide optimal power service to RX. The heuristic processmay use a list of sorted, weighted metrics based upon relevant powertransfer attributes, in determining the power transfer rating. Forexample, each metric may be assigned a weighted score, and these scoresmay be summed to determine a total score, i.e., power transfer rating,for an TX. In an embodiment, given metrics may have positive or negativescores, and the highest power transfer rating based on summing thesemetrics determines the selection of TX to transfer power. The heuristicprocess may penalize the TX power transfer rating due to certain data orevents; for example a failed connection event may be included as ametric with a negative score. The heuristic process may increase orreduce the weight of metrics due to certain data or events; for examplesensor data indicating a substantial obstacle obstructing transmissionbetween TX and an RX in motion, may result in an increased weight of apower transmission obstruction metric.

At 2610 the selected TX connects with RX, and allocates power resourcesto transfer wireless power to RX. In an embodiment, the master TX sendsa connection command to the selected TX. In an embodiment, the master TXsends a power allocation command to the selected TX.

In an embodiment, after allocating power resources to RX, the TX sendsits power status (measuring amount of power delivered) to the TX master.The master TX determines whether this power status is sufficient to meetRX power requirements. If the power status is sufficient the master TXmaintains the TX-RX connection and current power allocation, but if thepower status is insufficient the master TX may command a transmissionpower transfer transition and/or may command an adjusted TX-RX powerallocation.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a method by a master transmitter formonitoring power transfer attributes of transmitters within a cluster ofwireless power transmitters to a receiver device, and for transitioningpower transfer authorization from a current transmitter to a newtransmitter. The method applies to TX currently transferring power toRX, e.g., following selection of TX based upon the method of FIG. 26. At2702 the TX reports its power status for transfer of power to RX to theTX master. In an embodiment, the TX power status reports to TX masterare periodic reports. If the power status is sufficient the master TXmaintains the TX-RX connection and current power allocation, but if thepower status is insufficient the master TX may command a transmissionpower transfer transition and/or may command an adjusted TX-RX powerallocation.

At 2704, the master TX monitors power transfer attributes changes of thecurrent TX for power transfer to RX, as well as power transferattributes of other transmitters in the cluster. In an embodiment, themaster TX updates its database of power transfer changes in the case ofchanges that exceed a minimum difference, such as power transferproximity changes that exceed a minimum percentage difference. In anembodiment, the master TX calculates power transfer ratings oftransmitters in the cluster, for example when the power transferattributes of the current TX are decreasing gradually or sharply (e.g.,due to RX movement away from TX).

At 2706 the master transmitter identifies a new TX with the highestpower transfer rating in the cluster. The master transmitter selects thenew TX for power transfer to RX. At 2708 the master TX sends aconnection command to the new TX, and a disconnection command to the TXcurrently transferring power to RX. In another embodiment, the currentTX maintains its connection to RX, for additive power to RX by thecurrent TX and the new TX. In an embodiment, RX enters a transmissionpower transfer transition state in which its BLE advertisement rateincreases above normal advertisement rate, in order to facilitate thechange of connection to the new TX. At 2710, the new TX connects withRX, allocates power resources for wireless power transfer to RX. Themethod steps of FIG. 27 may then repeat, starting with the new RXreporting power transfer status to the master transmitter 2702.

In a further embodiment, the process of connecting an optimal TX to RXincludes a security pairing process, to secure the communications linkfrom attacks.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed, other aspectsand embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodimentsdisclosed are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to belimiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by thefollowing claims.

The foregoing method descriptions and the interface configuration areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order.Words such as “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the orderof the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader throughthe description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams maydescribe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operationscan be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order ofthe operations may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method,a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a processcorresponds to a function, its termination may correspond to a return ofthe function to the calling function or the main function.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedhere may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentinvention.

Embodiments implemented in computer software may be implemented insoftware, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware descriptionlanguages, or any combination thereof. A code segment ormachine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, asubprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a softwarepackage, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures,or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another codesegment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information,data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments,parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via anysuitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing,network transmission, etc.

The actual software code or specialized control hardware used toimplement these systems and methods is not limiting of the invention.Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods weredescribed without reference to the specific software code beingunderstood that software and control hardware can be designed toimplement the systems and methods based on the description here.

When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or moreinstructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable orprocessor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithmdisclosed here may be embodied in a processor-executable software modulewhich may reside on a computer-readable or processor-readable storagemedium. A non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable mediaincludes both computer storage media and tangible storage media thatfacilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory processor-readable storage media may be any availablemedia that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory processor-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible storagemedium that may be used to store desired program code in the form ofinstructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computeror processor. Disk and disc, as used here, include compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, andBlu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as oneor any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on anon-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer-readablemedium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of designating a master powertransmitter in a cluster of wireless power transmitters, comprising: ata first power transmitter that is in wireless communication with otherpower transmitters: receiving, from a respective power transmitter ofthe other power transmitters, signals including information indicatingat least (1) a network address of the respective power transmitter, and(2) status information of the respective power transmitter regardingwhether the respective power transmitter is in a master mode or anon-master mode; in accordance with a first determination that none ofthe other power transmitters is in the master mode, determining whethera first network address of the first power transmitter is lower thanrespective network addresses of the other power transmitters; inaccordance with a second determination that the first network address islower than the respective network addresses of the other powertransmitters: operating the first power transmitter in the master mode;sending, to each of the other power transmitters, an indication that thefirst power transmitter is in the master mode; and while the first powertransmitter is operating in the master mode, assigning each of the otherpower transmits to transmit wireless power waves to one or more powerreceivers.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning includes:receiving information from each of the other power transmitters thatidentifies respective signal strength levels detected at each of theother power transmitters for one or more power receivers; and based onthe received information that identifies the signal strength levels,assigning each of the other power transmitters to transmit wirelesspower waves to one or more of the one or more power receivers.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: while the first power transmitteris operating in the master mode: receiving a signal from a second powertransmitter of the other power transmitters that indicates that thesecond power transmitter is in the master mode; comparing the firstnetwork address with a second network address of the second powertransmitter; in accordance with a determination that the first networkaddress is higher than the second network address, operating the firstpower transmitter in the non-master mode.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the firstnetwork address is lower than the second network address, continuing tooperate the first power transmitter in the master mode, wherein thesecond power transmitter ceases to operate in the master mode and beginsto operate in the non-master mode.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein arespective power transmitter of the other power transmitters that isassigned to transmit wireless power to a first power receiver of the oneor more power receivers transmits radio frequency (RF) power waves tothe first power receiver.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RF powerwaves transmitted by the respective power transmitter to the first powerreceiver are transmitted so that the RF power waves constructivelyinterfere at a location of the first power receiver.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the information from the respective power transmitterof the other power transmitters is periodically received from therespective power transmitter.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereininformation indicating at least (1) a network address of each respectivepower transmitter of the other power transmitters, and (2) statusinformation of each respective power transmitter of the other powertransmitters regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in amaster mode or a non-master mode is received periodically from eachrespective power transmitter of the other power transmitters.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: before the first powertransmitter is operating in the master mode: receiving, from a secondpower transmitter of the other power transmitters that is operating inthe master mode, an instruction that the first power transmitter shouldbegin transmitting wireless power to a respective power receiver of theone or more power receivers.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: requesting authorization from the second power transmitterto begin transmitting wireless power to the respective power receiverbefore receiving the instruction from the second power transmitter. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising: requesting the authorizationto begin transmitting wireless power to a first power receiver inaccordance with a determination that strength of signals received fromthe first power receiver has increased to above a signal strengththreshold that indicates that the first power receiver should beassigned to the first power transmitter.
 12. The method of claim 10,further comprising: while transmitting RF wireless power waves to afirst power receiver: requesting, from the second power transmitter,termination of transmission of RF wireless power waves by the firstpower transmitter to the first power receiver in accordance with adetermination that strength of signals received from the first powerreceiver has decreased to below a signal strength threshold thatindicates that the first power receiver should be assigned to the firstpower transmitter.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: whilethe first power transmitter is operating in the master mode or thenon-master mode, periodically broadcasting, to the other powertransmitters, signals including information indicating at least (1) thefirst network address of the first power transmitter, and (2) statusinformation of the first power transmitter regarding whether the firstpower transmitter is in the master mode or the non-master mode.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein, when the first power transmitter is startedor reset, the first power transmitter is initially operating in thenon-master mode.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals receivedfrom the other power transmitters are signals sent using User DatagramProtocol (UDP).
 16. A wireless power transmitter comprising: an array ofantennas; a communication component; and one or more processors, whereinthe wireless power transmitter is in wireless communication with otherwireless power transmitters, and wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to: receive, from a respective power transmitter of the otherpower transmitters, signals including information indicating at least(1) a network address of the respective power transmitter, and (2)status information of the respective power transmitter regarding whetherthe respective power transmitter is in a master mode or a non-mastermode; in accordance with a first determination that none of the otherpower transmitters is in the master mode, determine whether a firstnetwork address of the first power transmitter is lower than respectivenetwork addresses of the other power transmitters; in accordance with asecond determination that the first network address is lower than therespective network addresses of the other power transmitters: operatethe first power transmitter in the master mode; send, to each of theother power transmitters, an indication that the first power transmitteris in the master mode; and while the first power transmitter isoperating in the master mode, assign each of the other power transmitsto transmit wireless power waves to one or more power receivers.
 17. Anon-statutory computer readable storage medium comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a first wireless power transmitterwith one or more processors, a communication component, and an array ofantennas configured to transmit power waves, the first power transmitterin wireless communication with other power transmitters, cause the firstwireless power transmitter to: receiving, from a respective powertransmitter of the other power transmitters, signals includinginformation indicating at least (1) a network address of the respectivepower transmitter, and (2) status information of the respective powertransmitter regarding whether the respective power transmitter is in amaster mode or a non-master mode; in accordance with a firstdetermination that none of the other power transmitters is in the mastermode, determining whether a first network address of the first powertransmitter is lower than respective network addresses of the otherpower transmitters; in accordance with a second determination that thefirst network address is lower than the respective network addresses ofthe other power transmitters: operating the first power transmitter inthe master mode; sending, to each of the other power transmitters, anindication that the first power transmitter is in the master mode; andwhile the first power transmitter is operating in the master mode,assigning each of the other power transmits to transmit wireless powerwaves to one or more power receivers.